How to install hidden hinges on 90s oak cabinets

Example of hidden hinges installed on 90s oak cabinets

Why install hidden hinges After years of renovating, our kitchen is finally where I want it to be. One of the best updates we made was to replace our old hinges with soft-close hidden door hinges, also called European hinges. Our kitchen cabinets are 90s oak. Several years ago, I painted them for a much […]

Easy Heart-Shaped Napkin Fold Tutorial Using Napkin Rings

A napkin folded into a heart shape on a vintage plate stack

Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for you and your sweetheart or hosting a February dinner party, this easy heart-shaped napkin fold tutorial using napkin rings will elevate your table and up the Valentine’s vibe. They would be fun for a Galentine’s lunch, too! A heart-shaped napkin for every February event My husband and I […]

My Painted Kitchen Cabinets After 11 Years

Painted kitchen cabinets

I have received a lot of questions about how my painted kitchen cabinets have held up. We started our kitchen renovation 11 years ago with a kitchen cabinet paint job. Many additional changes have happened since then (you can read about some of them here and here), but the painted cabinets have remained, and I […]

Design a New Kitchen Island for a Budget-Friendly Update

Kitchen island update with brown-tone stain and green surrounding cabinets

Replacing your kitchen island is a great way to give your whole kitchen an updated look. Design a new kitchen island for maximum function and new storage. Rethinking the kitchen layout We recently replaced our kitchen island, but we reused the existing island. Let me explain. Our 90s kitchen came with a kitchen desk. The […]

DIY Christmas Gift Tags Made From Wrapping Paper

DIY Christmas gift tags attached to gifts

Why buy gift tags when you can create these DIY Christmas gift tags to match your wrapping paper for a beautiful presentation under your tree? When I decided to wrap my gifts this year on a very cold and rainy day, I realized I didn’t have any gift tags that coordinated with my wrapping paper. […]

DIY Cordless Roman Shades

DIY cordless roman shade using mini blind hack

You can create custom-looking DIY cordless Roman shades with basic sewing skills and a mini-blind hack. Roman shades offer a convenient solution for tricky window situations. Because they only take the space of the window itself, they are good for small areas where drapes might be in the way. They also offer a great way […]

Upcycled Buffet Lamps

Upcycled buffet lamp shown on sideboard

With a little paint and some Rub ‘n Buff, these buffet lamps became the perfect addition to my antique sideboard. I recently replaced my beloved hutch with an antique sideboard in my dining room. The hutch covered most of the wall and didn’t allow the new wallpaper to show. My china filled the open shelves […]

5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Update Your Kitchen Without a Complete Reno

Budget-friendly kitchen updates

You don’t have to gut your kitchen to achieve an updated look.  Full-blown kitchen renovations are expensive and messy to live through. Sometimes a gut-job is the only option, but if your cabinets are in decent shape, and you’re happy with the basic layout of your kitchen, there are options to update without a complete […]

How to Make a Simple Lined Curtain Panel

Table at window in cottage room with homemade curtains at the window

Sew a simple lined curtain panel that is the basis for a variety of styles The right curtains can make a room! They can be the star and set the tone for the space or they can serve as a backdrop to bring elements in the room together. You might choose a beautiful vintage floral […]

Refresh a Wrought Iron Table with a Faux Marble Top

Wrought iron table with faux marble top on deck

Restore a rusted wrought iron table base to it’s original beauty and add elegance with a new “marble” top If the term faux painting conjures images of rooms full of sponged walls stenciled with cute floral or fruit-themed borders ala the 1980s and early 90s, put away those leg warmers and flat iron that over-permed […]