Make a moment in your house by looking for simple places to add a little touch of something special.
Years ago I toured the Southern Living Home and, of course, loved everything in it. But there was one thing that stood out to me as I walked through their beautifully planned and decorated model; the use of every space. In particular, every little nook and turn had something special. There weren’t any plain little walls.
At the end of hallways there were built in cabinets or custom bookcases. Everywhere your eye traveled there were magic moments. Moments that made you feel like this home was a little more elevated than a regular home. I’ve carried that with me all these years and have always looked for little spots to create a special feeling, a moment, like the Southern Living Home did all those years ago.
For three years I have walked toward this little wall on the way to our master bedroom and for too long it sat looking boring and just like “a wall.” Well, now this little wall has it’s own little magic moment and I love it.
I didn’t have a lot of space to work with. Really, only about four inches. If it were deeper it would be a prime spot for a built base of drawers. The door on the left contains our furnace and the door to the right leads to the master bedroom. I wanted to do something a little more magical than hanging a picture.
I received these little shelf brackets in my SWAG bag when I attended the Haven Bloggers Conference. One day it dawned on me what I could do with them and I was off to the races. It’s hard to keep a girl with a good idea down and before anyone could say “boo” I had the shelf put together.
Once the shelf went up I was on the hunt for the perfect decor to carry it into fall. I popped into Kirkland’s and fell in love with this wood and iron wall art. It’s the perfect amount of rustic with that hit of black I adore. While I was in Kirkland’s I found a box of these little pumpkins, acorns, and gold pinecones (not used yet). They look so cute lined up in a row on this shelf and the acorns have a little bit of glitter on them that sparkles in the evening.
I made the topiaries myself. It couldn’t be easier. I bought three stems of a leafy plant, stuck them down into some foam, and then bound them together with some jute twine. I bought some moss at the Dollar Tree and added my new favorite little sparkle acorns to finish them off. Oh! Almost forgot…whitewashing the terra cotta pots makes all the difference. Don’t be intimidated by whitewashing terra cotta pots. It’s really foolproof. Water down some white paint and then just use a small brush to just keep adding the white. The terra cotta “sucks up” the paint and it dries really fast giving you the streaky look your craving. It dries lighter so I actually gave these two coats.
So take a look around your house. Do you have a little wall or spot that could have it’s own magic moment? I think it’s these little vignettes that add character to a house and make it feel like a home.
I hope you have a fantastic day filled with all good things!
XO,
P.S.-If you’re reading this…bless you.
P.P.S.-I have something fun planned for this little blog next week! I won’t give away the secret but I will say…if you’ve always wanted to be a “blogger for a day” and share your creations…you might be in luck. Hello fall centerpiece!
May I ask where you purchased those leafy stems? I have been searching for something like this to make something like you made. I think from here on out, I will just copy everything you do. LOL This is a gorgeous moment you have created.
Lisa
Hey Lisa!
I bought the stems at the world’s smallest JoAnns. We have one just off the island and they literally have one small aisle of faux stems and flowers. I was so lucky to find enough of the same thing.
LOL…you can copy. I’m happy you are finding something inspiring here. After all, that is the whole reason I do all this.
Nancy
Nancy, your photos are always terrific! Could you give any tips for a antique booth dealer who would love to take pictures like yours?
Wow Debbie! Thank you so much. Working on my photography skills has been a bit of an obsession of mine. I think I could put a post together to help with it. I think you can do so much now with an i-Phone and a good photo app. I shoot with a DSLR camera but you can take great photos without that. I’ll see if I can put something together.
Nancy
Nancy – love the fabulous look in a tiny 4-inch space…amazing and fun.
Thank you Jeanne! It’s such a little bright spot on my numerous trips in and out of the master each day.
Nancy
Oh! Nancy! I just love your “magic moment”! That wall looks so beautiful! I just love what you have done with your wrought iron and wood wall panel, your wooden shelf, your gorgeous topiaries in the lovely white-washed pots, and your cute pumpkins and acorns — just so gorgeous!
Nancy, I just wish we lived closer to one another because we both have the same ideas in decorating! It would be fun to get together and just share our ideas — and go shopping to Kirkland’s! I just love that store and have a lot of furniture from them in our home here in Canada on the southern shore of Lake Winnipeg! I only wish my Hubby and I could move down to the U.S. as we just love our winters spent on S.P.I. in Texas! I always look forward to your posts! I really think that you need to put all your ideas into a book and publish it! I’ll be first on the list to buy it!
Hope you are having a great day, Nancy! Blessings! And, again, thanks for all your fabulous ideas! You are such a special gal and your passion for decorating shines through in your posts!
Mary-Ann,
You are just so sweet to me. I never turn down a shopping trip! I think you may find more items from Kirkland’s popping up on the blog. It seems lately like they are hitting it out of the park and they are within a 45 minute trip for me. I always seem to find something I can’t live without.
I’m so happy you look forward to my posts. I really truly do this to not only share what I am doing but to also inspire people to see small projects they can do in their home to make their space more reflective of them. It means the world to me that you enjoy what I do.
I’m actually finishing up some blog items here and then will be spending the next day getting ready to evacuate due to Hurricane Irma. Let’s all pray she decides to head East out to sea shall we?
Nancy
Simplicity is sometimes the best way to go…anything else on that blank wall would have been to much….Looks great!!! Hope y’all fair well with ERMA barreling down on us.Cedar Key is preparing for the worse…..moving books from our library etc..
Yes. Always opt for simplicity when given the choice. Oh my. I hope Cedar Key comes out of this okay. We are getting things ready for evacuation and then are going to make the call when the path is more known. If it does hit us it is estimated Monday morning. We are going to get everything ready and then make the call on Saturday morning. Be safe! Bless you.
Nancy
Hey Nancy – I am so inspired after reading this – got my shopping list ready! Thank you so much for another great post.
Teresa
Awwww Teresa, thank you! Hearing that you are inspired just made my day. Inspiring others is such a big part of why I spend hours and hours on this little blog. I hope your project turns out just like you have planned.
Have a great day!
Nancy
I love it and the shiplap – what a perfect spot for it.
Hoping we don’t have a lot of damage on our beautiful island.
Thanks Debi! I too hope it isn’t bad.
Nancy
You made that space very special indeed Nancy! It’s all about the details.
Thank you so much Shirley!
Hi Nancy
It looks perfect. Thanks for sharing.
I so much love your special moment. It works so beautifully with the rest of the rooms, but is so perfect all by itself. From beginning to end, a totally great job. Enjoy!! XOXO Susie from The Chelsea Project