 Finished diy weathered tray with some fall decor. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. This month, I tackled a simple DIY project using an unfinished wooden tray, furniture stain, and chalk paint. The tray was one of those items that kept getting moved from cabinet to cabinet…because "someday" I would come up with an idea for a DIY project!
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 Succulents and coleus planted in my outdoor fairy garden. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2020. As a child, I loved everything related to castles and fairy tales. The irresistible pull of the unseen world wormed its way into my psyche and never let go. The sense of wonder I felt when I imagined worlds full of magical folk like fairies, elves, gnomes, and talking animals was perhaps a way to escape a troubled childhood.  Doorway of my fairy cottage. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2019. So, fairy gardens…Where did this charming gardening trend come from? I asked myself this very question as I worked on my annual spring gardening and faux floral projects. For the past few years, I’ve been experimenting with fairy houses and fairy gardens—both for indoor and outdoor use—but until now, it never occurred to me to consider the origins and the meaning behind the miniature garden trend. So I did a little digging (no pun intended), and here’s what I learned…  Finished upholstered dining room arm chair. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. It’s been a year since we bought our dining room set from an upscale consignment shop in our area. It’s a beautiful set, but the chair upholstery was not looking its best. I tried cleaning it (I even did a blog about it last year), but ultimately, I was unhappy with the fabric. Anyway, the padding is so worn it feels like you’re sitting on a board--time for a reupholstery project!  Upclose view of faux orchids. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. It's springtime! Time to make another faux floral design for my front door wreath. Every season, I re-use a pre-made wreath base, which serves as a template for whatever seasonal floral design I want. I couldn’t tell you where I got this old wreath from—I’ve had it so long now! The twisted vines conveniently allow me to insert stems into gaps between the entangled branches. Most of the time, the stems stay in place, but occasionally, floral wire is needed for extra stability. (Because I change out florals for this wreath, I never use glue.)  Easter Bunny and pastel eggs in my spring vignette. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. This spring season, I decided to take a different approach to decorating the two spaces in my dining room, where I generally create vignettes. I stripped everything decorative out of the room so I could start with a blank slate and a clear mind. I wanted my dining room decor to reflect my tastes and personality. I placed every item slowly and thoughtfully. As an artist and designer, I love intricate details, but I also like things minimal and streamlined. The two sides of my brain sometimes conflict! But this time, the compromise was sheer perfection! The balance is perfect and illustrates my style while showcasing things that are important to me. So, I thought I’d share my process and a few tips I learned along the way…
 My spring Fairy Cottage and indoor garden with whitefaux florals and fairy lights. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. I’m officially obsessed with handcrafted fairy houses and indoor fairy gardens! They are now staples for my seasonal decor! I take advantage of every opportunity to switch out the miniature decor and faux florals to reflect the seasons and—sometimes—holidays. So far, I have two styles, but I have a few ideas for some new designs (finally), which I plan to work on in the next month or so, so stay tuned!
 Bathroom vignette with apothecary jars, river rocks, taupe towels, and a snake plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. This month, I decided to give our master bathroom a spring makeover. To say it needed a “refresh” is an understatement. Truthfully, there wasn’t much there to “refresh”! I didn’t take “before” pictures because it was too embarrassing to share, but here’s a quick overview of the design issues I had to address…  Pothos plant just misted. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. I have been refreshing the decor in my master bathroom and decided to add some greenery to the mix. Adding plants in a bathroom is a win-win for everybody. The plant gets plenty of humidity (which many tropical plants love), and we get a sense of healing and calm. If you’re using your shower regularly (which I hope you are!), your plants will benefit from the humidity in the air. If you have a window for natural light, that’s even better. Typically, tropical plants are the best for bathrooms or areas with high humidity.
I love having real houseplants in my home. There’s something simple and nurturing about puttering in plants. I realize not everyone has a green thumb...Even I kill a plant or two sometimes! There is also the issue of proper lighting. Plants need natural light to grow, and most will die if they don’t get enough. So what to do if you want greenery and plants in your home without the maintenance or lighting worries? Get creative with artificial flowers and faux greenery!  White faux floral bouquet. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.  Bromeliad plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. Plants can add beauty and a depth of color and texture to a space, but there are also health benefits to having plants around. There is a houseplant for you, even if you don't have a green thumb! Just do some research for low-maintenance houseplants…and buy just one plant. Keep one plant alive, and you’ll soon catch the houseplant bug…I know from experience! (Plants are the new candy for me now!) If you are interested in houseplants and would like to know some of the benefits, read on to learn how adding live plants in your space can benefit your health.  Cup of tea on a cold day. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. Maybe it’s the time of year—cold, dark, uninspiring—but I’ve been thinking a lot about creating warmth and healing in my interior spaces. My studies in interior design have made me aware of the effects your spaces can have on your mood and sense of self. There is an art to designing spaces, and I love how interior design can help the people who inhabit the space. As someone who has had to deal with lifelong depression and anxiety, I am also acutely aware of the need to have personal spaces that can make me feel more at ease and calm.
What is hygge? There is no direct translation for hygge. Hygge (or the Swedish equivalent "mys") is a feeling or state of mind, a way of thinking about life. The term is Danish, but according to Visit Denmark, the term is originally Norwegian, referring to living with a sense of well-being and togetherness—what could be called the simple life. Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh) means celebrating joy and pleasure in simple things. It’s frigid outside…cold wind whipping around you, your nose feeling like an ice cube, frosty white snow covering every surface. You open the front door to your home, feel the warm air on your face, and eagerly glance at a warm blanket on the other side of the room. We all want a space like this to come home to during these dark winter months. It’s a universal need to find refuge and healing in our homes during the colder, bleaker months of the year. Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s explore ways you can achieve a warmer, more inviting space to ward off the winter blues…  Cream heated blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. Well, 2021 is over, and good riddance! It’s time to think about a new year and a fresh start for decorating our interior spaces. I did some digging to find out the word on the street for design trends to keep an eye on for 2022, so here goes!  Throw pillow and knit blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.  My new winter throw pillow and blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022. So it’s January…and you’re staring at an empty room devoid of all the cheery decor that’s been up for--what seems like--months. It happens every year, and the feeling can be depressing and cold. That’s one way to look at it…But a more positive approach is to use this experience to be creative, as a chance to redecorate with a clean slate. A fresh new start…Isn’t that what January is about? I’m all about using design and decor to boost my mood and creativity, and this year’s challenge is to try to incorporate some of the winter home decor ideas I’ve discovered into my own space.  Finished and decorated dining room cabinet. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. Overview: Back in mid-Summer I found myself itching to do another DIY project. I had just finished a few other projects and my dining room was beautifully styled—except for this one miserable looking smaller cabinet. This sad looking piece of furniture had been sitting in my dining room for a few years waiting for me to find the time to give it a face lift and some style. We bought it several years ago from someone who must’ve been using it in their garage. It had no feet, no base, and the body was made of plywood with a pine wood top. Despite the haphazard materials, the piece was well constructed with classy looking door pulls and hinges. I knew I could make this cabinet look beautiful for my dining room. Besides, it was only $40 and I desperately needed storage! Fast-forward to this past summer, and I finally got around to giving this cabinet some much needed attention. I love my coffee. It is the nectar of the Gods! You know what I don’t love? The mess! So I decided to jump on the proverbial bandwagon and create a proper coffee bar for my kitchen counter…  DIY kitchen counter coffee bar. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. Bringing houseplants into your home can be a daunting process, especially if you are inexperienced or think you have a “black” thumb. I have found that a little bit of thought beforehand and a little research can go a long way towards helping you make a choice about what plants to bring home, if any at all. Below are five things you should consider before buying and rehoming real plants.  My vibrant colored bromeliad guzmania. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.  A few of my "found" decor pieces...Photos by Diane M. Lilly, 2021. I love shopping at thrift and consignment stores. I always find such interesting pieces with which to decorate. Using pre-owned pieces brings an element of surprise and interest to a space. A space filled with all brand new stuff lacks a sense of character, of past stories waiting to be told. And buying pre-owned, antique, or vintage pieces saves a whole lot of money! Sometimes it takes a bit of elbow grease to bring things back to life (as I found out with my thrift store lamps), but when you resurrect an old piece you give it a new lease on life and a chance to tell a new story. And did I mention it saves money?! So far this year I have collected soooo many decor items from my local consignment and thrift shops, and I am just dying to share them with you! I’ll break them down by room, to make it easier for me to keep them straight… |
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