Busy, busy, busy!

I've decided to put my weekly feature, "Welcome to NEWBIE" Wednesday on hold for awhile.  I'm just too busy right now to dedicate time to it and I'm never one to do anything halfway.  The good news is my decorating business has really taken off!  I can't wait to share future projects with you guys!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Welcome to "NEWBIE" Wednesday!

On a tip from Meg at House Notes, I am proud to be featuring

Karrie from The Brick Cottage!

Karrie and her husband, Bryan, purchased their first home in Knoxville, TN in August, 2008.  The 1945 brick cottage was perfect for them and their love of old homes.  Karrie got the front porch she dreamed of and Bryan got a workshop!

The Brick Cottage!

  They began transforming this house into a home, but life threw them a curve ball!  Karrie lost her job when the company she worked for went out of business. With time on her hands and a small decorating budget, Karrie turned to blogs for affordable decorating tips.  After becoming completely obsessed with reading blogs instead of completing projects, Karrie decided that starting her own blog would be a great way to hold herself accountable with house projects.  What she didn't expect was that complete strangers would read it and get inspired!  She gets excited when she receives comments from a reader who likes something she shared.  

Karrie and Bryan share their brick cottage with a feisty, but sweet dog, Bindi.  They've had her since she was two weeks old (after caring for her dog mommy & the entire litter of pups!) and are absolutely smitten.  She keeps them entertained on a daily basis. 

Meet Bindi!

Karrie describes herself as an eclectic decorator; she has an appreciation for vintage, contemporary, mid-century, you name it.  She describes the brick cottage as "traditional with a twist!"  Karrie and Bryan are still figuring out what they like and are learning a lot about compromise (if Bryan had his way, everything would be Craftsman style and if Karrie had hers, all of their furniture would be painted).  

Here's a peek inside The Brick Cottage!

Don't you just love Karrie's fresh decorating style?!  Look at the labeled handles on the buffet! I can't wait to see her next project!

Karrie's mission is to create new looks, spend as little as possible & use what she has around the house (a girl after my own heart!)  

Check out some of these beautiful budget friendly projects!

This is the coolest project!  Flower store vases (we all have tons of those!) transformed into chic hobnail vessels using spray paint & puff paint.  Wow!  Check out how she did it right here!

Roman shades made from existing blinds!   This project has been on my "honey do" list for awhile now. Don't they look great?

Dropcloth curtains with ribbon trim!

Hobby Lobby Plaque re-do becomes mudroom showstopper!

Olive oil bottle & cork becomes container for mouthwash!

And I'm really excited to see the attic transformation happening at The Brick Cottage courtesy of the DIY Network!  

So go visit Karrie at The Brick Cottage and follow the play-by-play on her exciting renovation!

Thanks for stopping by and see you next week for more NEWBIES!

Welcome to NEWBIE Wednesday!

Hello everyone and welcome to another addition of "Welcome to NEWBIE Wednesday"!  After a week hiatus for Spring Break, I'm excited to get back to this weekly feature! 

Each Wednesday, I will introduce you to some NEW, or as I like to call us, NEWBIE, bloggers who are fun, creative and just plain COOL!

This week I would like you to meet Micah and her blog The Yellow Front Door!

Micah and her husband Casey are living what she likes to call "the exciting suburban life" in Kansas City with their two dogs.  They moved from a brand new duplex to a 70-year-old house in July 2008.  Micah started blogging to keep her out-of-town family and friends updated on projects they were doing around the house, since that seems to be how they spend most of their free time.

She really didn't think anyone would be reading her blog except for her mom and sister.  Although Micah has a burst of creativity every now and then, she's not ashamed to admit that she "borrows" decorating ideas from other people all the time!  Micah describes her decorating style as "beachy classic/casual" - anything that reminds her of Hawaii is welcome in her home.

Check out the beautiful beachy tablescape on her coffee table!

Before...

And after...

She thinks paint is the most powerful decorating tool, whether you use it on your walls, furniture, or accessories.   

Here's the power of paint, Micah-style!

Before...

And the easy, breezy after...

And check out how painting chairs & adding some fresh accessories transformed her dining room!

Before...

And after...

Wow!

Check out the headboard she made for her master bedroom. 

Before...

And the "ooo la la" after...

Living room transformation!

Before...

And the beautifully updated after...

I love that she painted the brass on her fireplace WHITE!  Easy to do and WOW, what a difference!

So go check out The Yellow Front Door and say hi to Micah!

I can't wait to see what she shows us next!

Thanks for checking out this week's "Welcome to NEWBIE Wednesday"!

Welcome to another installment of my weekly feature, showcasing NEW or as I like to call them NEWBIE blogs that are fun, interesting and just plain COOLIO!  

After taking a week hiatus to fall down a very tall mountain ski, I'm excited to share my latest neato blog!

Meet Heather!

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Heather & her husband, Chris, on the beach!

...and Heather's blog!

Check out McKinney Living here!

I found Heather through my friend, Meg, at House Notes.  Thanks Meg!  (and she gets to shop with Meg and get decorating advice "live" because they are personal friends.....*sighing wistfully*)

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Heather and her husband Chris got married in October 2008 after 5 years of dating as college sweethearts! 

 

They bought their house in June of 2009 and started the blog after following all the amazing bloggers out there.  They thought it would be fun to chart their progress in decorating their first home.  

Heather is so happy to be a part of our fun little community.  She's been inspired by many bloggers and loves interacting with these creative ladies on a daily basis - plus it keeps her motivated to keep the projects going!  

Heather and Chris describe their style as a little casual and a little coastal.  She's obsessed with thrifty decor - Goodwill, Craigslist and discount stores are her weakness (oh Heather, we could start a 12 step program, you and me!)  She adores making things over with paint and she LOVES saving money, professing to be a big couponer and deal-hunter.

So, here's why McKinney Living is part of my daily blog tour!

Fun and fresh rooms!

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Master bedroom...black, white & turquoise yumminess!

The Keeping Room (I love that she calls it a Keeping Room!)  before...

and the fresh & breezy after...

This room is still a work in progress, so check back as she accessorizes and makes it even more fabulous!

Cool projects!

Heather framed lyrics to their 2 favorite songs (songs they danced to at their wedding) and gave them to Chris!  Here they are close-up!

What a beautiful way to remember that special day!

She finds the best stuff at Goodwill!  Check out these treasures!

$5.95....yes, for a chair!  Can't you see this beauty painted and recovered?!

$

9.99!  It will be painted a calm coastal blue to go in the Keeping Room!

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Everything pictured here was under $10 TOTAL.  Now that's a bargain!  

I want to go thrifting with Heather......BAD!

So go check out McKinney Living and become a follower!  Heather's funny, honest writing style is refreshing and you will enjoy following her play-by-play in decorating her first home.

See you next week for more NEWBIES!! 

6th "Welcome to NEWBIE" Weekly Feature!

 

Welcome to my 6th "Welcome to NEWBIE" weekly feature.  Each Wednesday, I will introduce you to some NEW, or as I like to call us, NEWBIE, bloggers who are fun, creative and just plain COOL!

You, my peeps, get some new inspiration and the NEWBIE gets some new followers!  A win-win for all!

My first NEWBIE this week is Liz from The Brambleberry Cottage! 

Here is the most elegant Liz...

Liz is a fifty-something Southern gal living with her husband, whom she affectionately refers to as "the Yankee".  Five years ago, they moved from the city to a quaint little cottage farmhouse amid the beautiful rolling hills of North Carolina.  

  

Meet "The Yankee"!! 

The Brambleberry Cottage is the name she gave her new home shortly after they moved in.  How did she come up with the name, you ask?  Well, one day, as she strolled their eleven wooded acres, the perfect name came to Liz.  There were lush blackberry brambles enveloping about five acres of the property's perimeter.  It was the time of year when  they were in full bloom, which created a charming backdrop for the cottage.  It seemed only natural to choose a name with that particular scenery in mind.  So, the Brambleberry Cottage was born. 

 

A wellhouse on the property framed by Fall foliage....beautiful....

Liz and her "Yankee" are very much a husband and wife DIY team.  They delight in rescuing vintage, antique, and collectible castoffs to create one-of-a-kind treasures - for themselves and others.  However, she is constantly faced with the challenges of their very different personalities and decorating styles.  

Liz favors the refined and feminine...

...while he likes rustic and primitive.

Liz decided to chronicle the adventures and challenges of blending these two entirely different styles - what she calls a "romantic union of Yankee ingenuity and Southern charm."  Her blog, which she started just a little over five weeks ago, provides a creative outlet to do just that.

So here's why you'll love The Brambleberry Cottage...

Want to see some yummy furniture rehabs?  Okay, rehab isn't even the word I should use when it comes to what Liz and the "Yankee" do with tired, old furniture. Metamorphosis maybe? Transformation?  Miracle?

  

 

Isn't this beautiful cottagey yumminess?  I love all the little appliques they added to give it that special handcrafted look.  And the color....could it be more perfect?

   

This vanity became 2 beautiful nightstands.  That's Yankee ingenuity for ya!  How nifty is that?!

Mr. "Yankee" even builds furniture...from scratch!

 

Kitchen island

Yes, he painted that checkerboard pattern on the top by hand.  Mr "Yankee" I'm your newest fan!

 

Rustic bench

 

Chippy little table!

Tablescapes are just one of Liz's passions...

 

Romantic dining in the field behind the cottage!

Liz throws the coolest parties!

 She did a 14 day marathon of giveaways in honor of Valentine's Day!  That's a lot of work Liz.  Great job!

So go over and visit Liz, her "Yankee" and The Brambleberry Cottage! 

Now meet my 2nd NEWBIE, Barbara from Hodge:Podge! 

 

Barbara's passion for decorating started as a child, when her mom taught her how to sew buttons at 3 years old!  From there, she started designing her own Barbie dresses, then re-decorating the Barbie house and redecorating and rearranging her bedroom, much to her parents constant bewilderment. 

 

What really fuels her passion is trying to create an aesthetically pleasing home on a budget. She enjoys painting, refinishing furniture, sewing drapes, pillows and just "fluffing" the house by using creativity and imagination. She looks to her  favorite Canadian design mags and designers for inspiration, as well as the wealth of inspiration in our blogging community!

Some of Barbara's original artwork!

"Peony"

 Barbara began blogging after moving back to Canada from Virginia and not being able to find work in her profession, education. She stayed busy by focusing on decorating her home despite it being a rental. After stumbling across some blogs she decided to start one as well. She finds it is another creative outlet and she's met some amazing and talented women along the way.

So here's what got me hooked on Hodge:Podge!

Barbara comes up with wonderfully creative, yet simple to execute (which blondie here likes A LOT!) fun projects!

Like this one...

 

Rubbermaid bins get the chalkboard paint treatment!

Or these...

 

Recover an ironing board using snappy Ikea fabric OR make a chalkboard out of a window!

I love an ugly lamp makeover!  The before...

 

And after...

She used silver leaf....totally glamourous!

This one got the white treatment.  Beautiful!

Barbara did a wonderful series on how to create character and make a RENTED home feel loved.  The ideas are great for renters, but could be used for an owned home too!  

Such as...

 

Change the fixtures in bathrooms.  If you need more towel bars, add them!  (Sidenote: this bathroom was PURPLE, yes purple before she painted it this wonderful caramel color!)

 

Change light fixtures! 

(*as I look at what I like to call the "mushroom light" in my master bedroom entry!)

Nothing says lovin' like the power of paint!  

The before...

Red rum....Red rum!!!! (*I love that movie!)

And the calm, serene after...

 

  

So go check out Barbara at Hodge:Podge!  I can't wait to see what wonderful ideas she comes up with next!

Thanks for joining me for "Welcome to NEWBIE Wednesday".  I hope you enjoyed meeting these 2 lovely ladies!