During a recent trip to Home Depot, I found a few fun things and bargains that I want to share with you. Typically, when I think of Home Depot, lumber, plumbing and hardware comes to mind. But in the last few years, Home Depot has become so much more. Here is a list of some of the fun finds and bargains I discovered. Also, this is not a sponsored post by Home Depot, only my personal recommendations.

If you do not get their seasonal catalog, I would highly recommend signing up for it. Here is an online version of their Summer one, which is chock-a-block full of ideas on summer home decor and entertaining. Granted, many of these products are not in the actual stores, but ordering online is very easy.

If you are doing your summer canning, click this link to see all the supplies Home Depot offers.

Unique tile

Recently, I ordered this beautiful green tile for our barbecue backsplash from Home Depot. They have an extensive tile collection on their website. Their stores tend to inventory what is popular or a best-selling item, but if you are looking for something unique and different, try their website. If you missed the blog post on the BBQ project, please click here.

Lanterns

During my latest trip I picked up these fabulous outdoor lanterns. They are 22″ tall. This must be the clearance price, but the cost is $12.98 each. I purchased two and went back and bought the remaining 3. When I first checked, they were available online at the price. But I believe they are now out of stock online. However, you may only get this price at the store level. Check out the inventory in your local store too.

Think of all the different ways they can be used for fall and Christmas decorating!

Even the smaller 14″ lantern sitting next to this one on the shelf, was more expensive (regular price $24.98 reduced to $16.00). Go figure.

Right now, they are sitting outside on the covered porch of the cabin. The battery operated candle is not included, but I have several of those anyway. Isn’t this just a steal? It feels so good to get a bargain!

Halloween Items

In the fall, Home Depot also has the BEST selection of Halloween items. A few years back, I ordered several fun decorations, all done from the comfort of my home. They were ready for me to pick up at my local store~~which now with their curbside pickup makes shopping a breeze. It appears that Halloween items will be available after August 1.

Entertaining

Check out the variety of entertaining items in their catalog! Their photos are beautifully staged and they also include a recipe for Grapefruit Rosemary Cocktail.

With the holidays coming, Home Depot’s prices are so affordable for glasses, dishes and serving pieces. Check out some of the fun items here.

And look how cute these blue and white melamine plates are? Perfect for outdoor use or pretty enough for indoor entertaining too!

I’m not sure how much holiday entertaining any of us will be doing, but check out these sweet oversized red and white dish towels for $2.49 each. Aren’t they ideal for wrapping baked goods or lining a gift basket. The online price is less than the catalog at$18.00 for 8 ($2.25 each).

Another fun find is a set of ceramic dinnerware that I purchased for our cabin. This is the first time I have ordered dishes from Home Depot, and am delighted with this set. Online price is $116.12 for the 16-piece set.

Outdoor Furniture Covers

Finding a good quality outdoor furniture cover is a challenge for me. They are not inexpensive and often, made of plastic, which doesn’t last more than one season. This new purchase from Home Depot is an attractive brown and beige fabric. It’s large size can accommodate a big table and 6-8 chairs.

This cover has handles and a venting system on either end. So far I am impressed with the quality and the roomy construction. Let’s see if it will survive the elements. So if you are looking for outdoor furniture covers, the collection online is rather extensive. Online price for this one is $41.98.

If you click on the links I provided, it will take you to the Home Depot website. If you decide to buy something, I may get a small stipend at no cost to you!

Home Depot’s fall catalog will be mailed sometime in August so keep your eyes open for it. Now with more online ordering and curbside pickup or home delivery, you can truly enjoy the vast number of fun Home Depot items.

This post shared with Thursday Favorite Things #450 with An Artful Mom

Last week I posted my thoughts of adding more Scandinavian touches to our cabin in the White Mountains of Arizona. The typical decor in our area is mountain-style, lots of carved bears and pine wall treatments. If you missed that post, click here to see some lovely ideas.

Unfortunately, our cabin is a remodeled flip so many of the finishes are over-the-counter hardware store. The choices aren’t offensive, but very vanilla. Without realizing it, I have been collecting items that are along the Scandinavian, Black Forest, European theme.

By the front door, this umbrella stand is painted in the traditional Norwegian style of rosemaling.

Also, in the front entry we have a Black Forest style carved bear shelf with a lodge-like bird/twig mirror.

And there happens to be another carved mirror of similar style on the staircase landing.

Subconsciously, I have been designing the cabin with a more old Scandinavian style. Being a Connecticut Yankee, I am always looking for affordable ways to make changes that can add some charm and warmth.

During my numerous trips to Home Depot, I know they have decorative molding in stock. You can see their vast selection online. Would I be able to add more interest to my very plain kitchen cabinets using affordable hardwood trim?

Using this very inexpensive mitre box and saw by Stanley (also Home Depot), I cut the molding at 45 degree angles to fit inside the existing Shaker style cabinet door.

The molding cut rather easily and fits nicely inside the the cabinet stile. If I am going to add this to all the cabinets, I will definitely use a power tool to make all the cuts.

After all four sides are mitered, I taped them in place. Next I repeated the same process with the narrower trim. At this point, I don’t want to affix anything permanently until I can step back and get a good look at it.

Here is how the cabinet looks with the additional decorative trim. What do you think? Granted the finishes are different but my options would be to stain and finish the trim like the cabinet (and get rid of the dated knobs), or paint the cabinets and the trim? Or just paint the molding?

In order to get a sense of what a painted cabinet looks like, I made a drawing paper template by taping 3 pieces of sketching paper together. Using a leftover can of green paint, I paint the template of the cabinet’s panel.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures of the steps, but you can envision it, right? Next I watched a 3 minute tutorial on rosemaling by Sea Lemon on YouTube (what did we do before YouTube). Here is my first attempt at rosemaling. Try not to laugh.

So this gives you a sense of what a painted, rosemaling cabinet front would look like! Since I really didn’t have an artistic plan, and am using whatever paint is available, you will need to have some vision here. Maybe more rosemaling? Or just a few images on opposite corners would be enough~~or even some squiggles in the middle? Or nothing at all?

Do you like it better before?

Or after? Remember this is just a very rough mock-up. Colors and design can be changed.

As much fun as I think this project would be, I am afraid the granite is all wrong. The color and style is definitely not my choice, but to change it? Yikes. Maybe it would make sense to do something like this on the island cabinets first and see how it goes?

As always, I LOVE your input. There’s so much about this room that needs help. Either I will leave it as is or just jump in with both feet. It’s all a bit intimidating!

As the ideas swirl around in my head, I hope you are having a relaxing weekend. Any projects on your horizon?

P.S. To see more of our cabin from a previous post, click here.

Lately, life feels like a lot of loose ends. The ups and downs of the pandemic, the constant barrage of bad news, the light at the end of the tunnel brightens and then dims. I don’t know about you, but I feel a bit untethered. Of course, some days are better than others. But, wait. What day is it? So today’s blog post is wrapping up the stories on previous editions. Let’s get some loose ends wrapped up!

Propagating Roses Project in April

Remember me attempting to propagate roses a few months ago? I did all this research and had the right tools and equipment? My goal was to create more of the heirloom roses that have been growing on our property for many years.

Well that project was a total failure. Not one of the stems took root and all of them died…in a matter of days. Seriously. It’s hard to admit when such an ambitious project bites the dust. However, I am not giving up. I will try again in the fall when the temperatures are cooler. To read more of my lofty rose goals, click here.

However, like most things in life, there is a bright spot. One of my lovely subscribers, Shaun took the time to send me pictures of her beautiful roses. So I am living vicariously through her stunning rose pictures. Thank you, Shaun.

Back Staircase Project

As you may recall, the back staircase project started last August. Yep, nearly a year ago. The existing sisal rug was separating on the edges and showing wear and tear. To see that post, click here.

Though we have made progress, it has been slow and painful. The last report from me showed us struggling to remove layers of carpet glue and old paint. See that May post here.

Well, I’m happy to report that the stripping is complete and the stairs are down to bare wood. However, in doing so, we found 3 broken threads and one jury-rigged upright. To get these repaired by a professional, the first bid was a whopping $3,500.

That is enough to take the wind out of your sails, so the project is on hold until we get more opinions. Right now it would be easier to just cover the problems with carpet, but I can’t do that. This has become more challenging that we expected. But this will get done.

The Bulb Garden

It was so joyful watching the heavily planted bulb garden bloom in the spring with an abundance of iris, tulips and hyacinths. I was a proud bulb mama, carefully inspecting each and every blossom on my daily yard walkabouts.

And then the bulbs disappeared. Literally. I know there is something living below ground just munching his/her way around the yard. But I haven’t done anything yet because it just seems a bit overwhelming. Fighting with a varmint? I just don’t have the energy. But the fall will be here soon and I WILL want to replant my bulbs. So there is more work to be done there….sigh.

The Pool House Bathroom Floor

This week, I started a new floor stenciling project in the pool house. If you follow my stories on Instagram, you have seen my progress. The stencil painting will start after letting the primer and base coat dry for a full week. More to come!

Sharing Sourdough Starter

In April, I wrote a post on Sourdough Starter basics. An old friend, Tanya reached out to me as a result. She indicated her daughter (who used to be in my Girl Scout troop and attended the same grammar school as my youngest), wanted to learn how to make bread.

Happily, I shared some of my sourdough starter and basic information on bread making. Meet Ursula and her first loaf of sourdough bread! She is now a rising sophomore in college and loves baking.

I am so happy that her first loaves were successful and she continues to bake bread. Tanya and Ursula, thank you for sharing your pictures! To see more about Sourdough Starter Basics, click here.

Pretty Masks

My dear friend, Janie, asked me to share my resource for pretty masks. Now that these have become a fashion accessory, I do try and have them match with whatever I am wearing. Fashion and my name are never in the same sentence so this is possibly the only fashion tip you will get from me!

Johnny Was, known for their boho chic designs, has a Buy a Mask, Donate a Mask program. Made from repurposed and assorted fabrics, I find these masks comfortable and attractive.

For $25.00 you can get a package of five masks~and 5 will be donated. Not only will you look cute but do a good deed too.

Hands down, one of the best benefits of writing this blog is hearing your comments, feedback and getting your pictures. Truly, it makes my day. And in this complicated, disturbing world, I can’t even begin to tell you how much that means to me. You are my inspiration. Keep them coming!

Well, that wraps it up for the Wednesday, July 15th. Stay sane. Stay grounded. Let’s lift each other up in the meantime.

Most of my time is spent in the kitchen. I love the kitchen overall, but I have a few favorites that, if I were to design another kitchen, I would definitely include. Here is my list of top 10 items I love and use heavily in the kitchen.

Nespresso Machine

My Nespresso Machine is the one of the best birthday gifts I have ever received. Called Creatista by Nespresso and Breville, it continues to perform multiple times day after day. This machine steams the milk and creates a range of coffee choices from espresso to macchiato. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t use this machine. A very worthy investment!

My happy cups are designed by Jennifer Orkin Lewis and purchased from Anthropologie, but not sure they are still available. To see why I call these happy cups, click here.

Double Sinks with Double Faucets

I am so glad I purchased two high quality Franke stainless steel sinks (which look as good as the day I bought them). However, when I told plumber that I wanted a faucet for each sink, he thought I was nuts. Typically one faucet will serve two sinks.

My two Kohler Artifacts faucets in polished nickel allow two people to be washing dishes or using the sinks independently. Both have a 2 function pull-down spray heads. The faucets were pricey, but again, well-worth every penny!

My Pot Filler

My pot filler is located right above the stove. The arm extends over each burner so I can fill multiple pots easily. This affordable luxury allows me to fill my large cooking pots right there vs. hauling them across the kitchen. Very helpful when I am making several pots of pet food. Mine is a Chicago Faucets Softflo Pot and Kettle filler.

Compost Bin

Disguised as a door, this pull out allows me to slide all my vegetable and fruit scraps off the island counter and right into bin inside. It is a collection method that is so convenient and small enough for easy transport to the composter on a weekly basis.

Hidden Step Stool

Tucked under the toe kick on the island, this step stool pulls out and collapses to 4″ in height. My cabinet guy added a piece of toe kick trim and a handle on the front for accessibility.

It easily pops up and provides a 2-step stool for reaching those top shelves. To see a tour of my kitchen and resource this stool, click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.

My Pedestal Organizer

Just to the left of the stove, are nearly all the things I need to cook. This vintage Italian pedestal plate holds various oils and seasonings, all within reach. It is a time saver as I don’t need to go hunting for spices or condiments while cooking.

Collection of Small Bowls

I use these bowls every single day from measuring ingredients for recipes to serving nuts or dips. The bowls are collected from various places~our trip to Italy, West Elm, The Findery (Waco) and vintage stores. My friend, Connie gave me a stack of small glass Duralex bowls from France. It is still one of my all-time favorite gifts.

Salter Family Scale

I don’t think this is a vintage scale, but I sure have had it a long time. While I own a fancy digital one, I seem to use this more often. Not only is it functional and nostalgic, but also pretty sitting on top of the shelf above the stove.

Weather Station

Even though the weather in Phoenix is mostly clear and sunny (approximately 300 days per year), I check our weather monitor every day. The wireless weather station is positioned in our orchard and transmits up to 1000 feet. This monitor has rain, temperature and humidity sensors that relay the information back to this LCD console. Made in the USA, this makes a great gift!

Paper Shredder

Don’t laugh (well most people find this amusing), but I have a heavy duty shredder in the kitchen by the island. This is used multiple times a day.

When the mail comes in I stand at the shredder and discard all the junk and unwanted mail in this receptacle. The shredded paper gets tossed into the composter and recycled. I still cannot believe how much non-essential stuff we get in the mail! But at least I am converting it into soil for the garden. To see my composting blog post, click here.

Wishing you a terrific Tuesday. It is supposed to be 109 degrees here today. I hear the mountains calling to me, so I am hoping to dash back there to enjoy the 80 degree weather. In the meantime, stay cool and make this a marvelous day.

This post shared with Charming Homes & Gardens Week 16

House Project

Happy Saturday morning! We continue to check things off our list of home projects that need to get done. However, I am beginning to tackle a new project that I’ve been wanting to try~stenciling a tiled bathroom floor in the pool house.

In retrospect, I am not sure why I selected this floor tile. It appears in both the pool house and our master bathroom. And I don’t like it in either place.

Our home restoration took years to complete. My guess is that I had renovation fatigue about two years in and selected a tile that was available, affordable and not offensive. I would not select this tile today.

So what is the solution to jazzing up this vanilla floor? It will be too expensive to remove the tile. So I will try my hand at stenciling it. The search for an attractive stencil pattern in an appropriate size came up empty. Fortunately, I discovered that Royal Design Studios will make custom size stencils.

Working with their design department, I was able to order one (13.0625″ x 13.0625″) that will work perfectly with my tile size. The cost is $39.50. Not bad.

I need to research the steps to prepping the tile, repairing any grout problems, and selecting paint types and paint colors.

The bathroom walls are white with decorative blue images. I am not sure whether to keep them or just re-paint all the walls white. I find them to be sweet, but is it dated?

The pool house theme is mostly blue, white and yellow. Since this is the only blue/white space anywhere at Bella Terra, I want to continue that with the stencil color choices.

My inspiration for the colors in the stencil may be a few shades of blue, similar to this vase.

So wish me luck! I am hoping that stenciling the floors will give it an old world look. Any time I start a project that will have dramatic results, I hold my breath a bit. There will be a great deal of prep work to do and so I don’t expect this project will be done quickly. But I will keep you posted!

Though I have never stenciled on tile before, I have had success in stenciling on concrete and wood. To see the stenciled floor project done on concrete, click here.

To view the stenciled wood floor project, click here .

Have a wonderful weekend. It’s very quiet here and I have so much catching up to do with being out of town for a week~bills to sort, the refrigerator to clean, and laundry. Plus I am dreaming of Scandinavian solutions to our cabin and will keep you up to date on what crazy ideas I develop! If you missed my last post about this, click here.

Thanks for joining me this morning!

This blog post is shared with:

Karins Cottage Centerpiece Wednesday Linky Party.

Charming Homes and Gardens Week 15

Last September, my husband attended a board meeting in Vail, Colorado. Naturally I tagged along! If you haven’t been to Vail Village, you are transported to a quaint, charming European hamlet. Loaded with Scandinavian decor everywhere you go, the experience is a magical one right here in the United States.

We stayed at the Sonnenalp Resort, a boutique lodge and our room made me feel like yodeling. A cozy fireplace, cuckoo clocks, window boxes spilling with colorful flowers were some of the treats we enjoyed during our stay.

One of the highlights of the trip, for me, was exploring Axel’s of Vail, a European clothing store in Vail Village. Decorated in old Scandinavian decor, the architecture of the store, as well as its contents far exceeded my expectations.

Most retail stores do not go to the expense to make their exteriors so exquisite. The wood carvings, the iron hardware and the abundant flowers transport you from Vail to Norway in seconds.

At one of the board meeting dinners, I had the pleasure of sitting next to the owners of Axel’s, Axel and Janie Wilhelmsen. What a warm and engaging couple! The conversation was lively and as a result, a visit to their spectacular home was arranged.

Some people are enamored with Hollywood celebrities. I am not. But I do get very excited when I am invited to see someone’s unique and spectacular home. I don’t know about you, but I am tired of seeing the same design styles over and over again.

The next day, my friend, Missy and I traveled to this treasure of a home. Yes, they have a living roof (also called a green or garden roof). The plants grow each year on top of a waterproof membrane. Living roofs provide good insulation, are long lasting and often seen in Norwegian homes.

The Wilhelmsens, being such gracious hosts, provided a full tour of the guest house and main home, which they built and designed themselves.

Below is their guest cottage. What a delight for their friends and family to stay here!

Each room is more breathtaking that the next. The kitchen in the main house, which is part of an open plan with the living room, did not feel like a kitchen at all. The cabinets are beautifully hand painted and even the refrigerator was covered with a decorative panel, making the kitchen feel as furnished as the dining and living room.

And look at this stove/oven! Even the pedestal on which it sits, is beautifully painted!

I did not take many pictures, because after all, this is their home and I wanted to respect their privacy. But it was hard not to capture every single luscious detail! The wood carvings alone were spectacular. Touches such as matching handmade chandeliers made this a one-of-a-kind home.

Even the television is hidden behind a gorgeous hand painted cabinet. This Scandinavian type of folk art painting is called rosemaling. What is the difference between rosemaling and tole? Rosemaling is painting on wood, whereas tole is painting on tin. I now have a desire to learn how to do this!

Clearly, having logs and chinking walls add enough Scandinavian character, but look at that carved headboard and those comfortable linens.

So you are probably asking, what is Mary sharing this with us today? Well, quite honestly I have not stopped thinking about this house since I saw it last September. The Wilhelmsens’ home is so warm, welcoming and appropriate in the mountains of Colorado.

I would love for our cabin to have this European/Scandinavian charm and decor. However, I would imagine all that wood carving would be a bit cost prohibitive, though Janie was kind enough to share her resource.

While at our cabin, I started to notice that I already have a few Scandinavian pieces that I have acquired over time. I never really thought of a strategy to decorate the cabin this way, but I would love to try.

In a future blog post, I will share some thoughts and hopefully you can help me along the way to add enough, affordable touches to make our cabin unique and charming. It’s a stretch, but I am hopeful!

As a side note, I want to thank my friend, Missy who acquired the invitation to Axel and Janie’s home. Also, if you are ever in Vail Village, you must visit their store (and you can order online). Their philosophy is: Romance is the very thread that weaves our collections together, from Italian handmade sartorial clothing to the rugged leathers that imbue the spirit of the west.” Their “modest” objective is to be the best store in the world. This is a family run business. Their lovely children, Candice and Axel, Jr. model all their clothing. I can honestly say I am very impressed with their collection of goods, but more importantly, their sincerity, passion, elegance and commitment to family is genuine.