Easy DIY Faux Eucalyptus Wreath

I am a sucker for eucalyptus. I love both the seeded and regular kind. I know some people don’t like the way it smells, but I think it’s amazing. I love buying big, green bunches of it when it’s in season, and putting it around my home. Since the wide leaf kind (Silver Dollar)doesn’t dry very well,  I wanted to show you how to make a DIY faux eucalyptus wreath that you can enjoy all year. This wreath used two faux stems,and luckily, faux plants are getting better and better at how real they look, and the stems can be found fairly inexpensively.

I actually grew baby eucalyptus this year in my garden. Where I’m at, it grows as an annual. I ended up with about three lovely stems, and hung them up. They smelled pretty awesome while they were drying out! And then the first frost killed it, before I could bring it in. I was very sad.

To make a DIY faux eucalyptus wreath, you’ll need four things :

 

A 12-inch  macrame or embroidery hoop, stems of faux eucalyptus, fishing line or clear thread, and tacky glue.

Start by pulling your stem a part into sections. Cut a long length of clear thread (about 15 inches), and knot theclear thread around the base of one of the faux stems. Using a green floral wire will also work, but the nice thing about the clear thread is it really gets lost in the greenery.

Hold the stem to your hoop, and start wrapping the  thread around both the hoop and stem together, working your way up. Just before wrapping the top of the stem, add another one against it , layering them slightly, and start wrapping again.

When you’ve layered your faux stems all the way around the hoop, tie the  clear thread and add a drop of glue to hold them in place.

I hung mine with twine tied at the top, but it could almost hang right off of the ring it’s on.

This picture is from last winter when I had a gorgeous bunch of it in my living room. It’s so nice to bring the green in when it’s so dreary outside!

 

The post Easy DIY Faux Eucalyptus Wreath appeared first on Jennifer Rizzo.

from
https://jenniferrizzo.com/2018/10/easy-diy-faux-eucalyptus-wreath.html

Lighting Trends: Gold and Soft Brass Light Fixtures

 It’s such an honor when a client trusts me to help them re-envision their home into something beautiful and new. I find many of them have an idea of what they want, it’s just helping them to take the step to implement it.  Since the store opened, our design side has taken off by leaps and bounds. Much of what I try to do is to blend what a client already has, with the added compromise of newer trends, without forgetting along the way what the homeowner loves (that is the most important thing of all.).  One of the trends that is emerging  is gold and soft brass light fixtures. It’s probably because they really go well with the gray trend that has been around for so long, fit in nicely with modern farmhouse, and can sail right into the up and coming boho  and MidCentury Modern styles. Gold and soft bass light fixtures also feel really fresh to me. Even though they were really popular in the early 70’s,  the new metallics  aren’t the brash yellow color of the 80’s, but range from cooler gold tones to aged brass with a soft, warm, and deep color.

In our kitchen, we are still chandelier-less. Because we aren’t moving our electric, it limits what kind of light I can have. I would love something that hangs straight down on a rod, but because of where it’s at, we have to swag the chandelier. So, I just keep searching… It’s not bad looking without a chandelier, it’s just really dark at night with only a few lamps. I am also looking for something that has gold and soft brass color tone as well.

(this post contains affiliate links)

I thought it would be fun to digitally place a few of them I’ve been looking at in my kitchen. While the mock ups aren’t completely true to size, I tried to estimate as close as I could. And while nothing replaces actual measuring, it’s so much easier to make a choice when you can actually see it!

I love the idea of this solid brass drum shade chandelier, but I’m worried it is too much down lighting for our kitchen. We don’t have can lighting so it would be our main source of light at night.  Our old chandelier really lit the kitchen up brightly.

This light fixture is pretty, but it feels so much more formal than our house is.

Just for fun, I added a farmhouse style globe. While it’s not exactly my style, I know this would look really pretty in a lot of other kitchens.

These below are some of the gold and soft brass light fixtures  I’ve been looking at for clients kitchens.

 

I love number 1. It has a very cool combination of modern and retro.

Number 2 is gorgeous for a home with a traditional touch. The white shades are classic, but the shape of the chandelier arms from underneath has a little flair to it.

Light 3 is just super fun. I bookmarked it because it feels young and fun. I would love to work on a house I can use it in someday.  You just know that couple is cute and wild.

4 is perfect for that home that wants to have a rustic elegance; In a farmhouse meets Europe kind of style.

5 is the kind of light that could go either way. In the wrong setting, it could feel busy, but in the right home, it’s pretty and bohemian.

 

 I know I would love to find a gold and soft brass light fixture before we get into the holidays, and we really will have to eat by candlelight.

Which of these are your favorite?

The post Lighting Trends: Gold and Soft Brass Light Fixtures appeared first on Jennifer Rizzo.

from
https://jenniferrizzo.com/2018/10/gold-and-soft-brass-light-fixtures.html

Gray Painted Dresser Makeover

I love a good furniture before and after! There’s something about taking a cast-off piece, and bringing it back to life. I had this little dresser sitting in my garage for almost a year. I knew I wanted to do something with it, but I didn’t really have a spot for it. I went back and forth between keeping it and donating it, every time I opened the garage door. Now, I am so glad I held onto it, because it was such a good makeover! I love how this little gray painted dresser turned out. The drawer pulls also got a fresh coat of paint, and it’s like a brand new piece of furniture! I used the HomeRight Super Finish Max paint sprayer to give it a smooth factory like finish, and it made the whole process super easy!  You can see the step by step directions of how I transformed it here on the HomeRight site.

  (This post contains affiliate links)

I first started by setting up my Medium Spray Shelter. It makes my hubby happy because it keeps paint off of the deck, and keeps any paint spray corralled.  I used satin enamel paint with the sealer already in it.

I prepped the dresser, and started painting. It took about 20  minutes to put a first coat on with my Super Finish Max paint sprayer, and then I waited a bit and did a quick second coat.  I’ve been painting furniture for over 15 years, and this is by far the easiest way. If you are looking for advice on the best way to paint furniture, you can see this post here.

The drawer pulls also got a makeover, You can see that here.  You can also watch this video to see a little bit of the makeover process :

Are you ready for the reveal?

Tah-Dah! Didn’t she clean up nicely? I am do glad I didn’t just send her to the donation pile. This gray painted dresser makeover is one of my favorites so far. It just fits in so perfectly with my home. I styled it with my abstract art piece, and a fun wood lamp I bought at Target a few years ago. You can find a similar one here.

I love how easy spraying furniture is. I think about all of those years I painted by hand. While it’s still a good way to paint furniture (especially when it’s too cold to paint outside) , using a finishing paint sprayer gives the best results!

This post was sponsored by HomeRight, opinions are entirely my own.

The post Gray Painted Dresser Makeover appeared first on Jennifer Rizzo.

from
https://jenniferrizzo.com/2018/10/gray-painted-dresser-makeover.html

Painted Metallic Copper Drawer Pulls

I have a fun dresser makeover to share, but I thought I would show you how I updated the drawer pulls with you first. I used metallic paint, and turned them into copper drawer pulls. It was so super fast, and easy, and inexpensive.  It’s a great option when you don’t want to : A. Spend money on new pulls or knobs for a dresser, or B. Can’t find the right ones to fit. For me, the answer was both A and B. The pulls were vintage, and they go so well with the dresser; it seemed a shame to separate them. Also, the pull spacing between holes was so close,and I had a limited selection to choose from. Otherwise I would have to drill a place for new holes. Even though I am really good at spackling, and using wood putty, I decided to take the path of least resistance this time, and give a little makeover to the pulls that came with the dresser.

You can see they have a pretty shape and detail. It would be a shame not to use them. I painted them in DecoArt (not sponsored) Americana Metallics in Bronze. It gave them a pretty, aged copper look.

 

Using an old brush,and  I pounced on the paint with a stippling technique, to give them a textured appearance.

I made sure to move the brush around to get in all of the details of the handles.

It took  about a total of 5 minutes to paint all three handles, and I let them dry for a full day. Even though it dries faster than that, I wanted to make sure they were completely dry before I decided to put them back on. I had a few spots where I touched them before they were 100% dry, and a little paint lifted off. I actually left the spots where the paint rubbed off, because I liked the little bit of patina it gave them.

 I love quick and easy makeovers! I can’t wait to share with you how awesome the dresser turned out! It’s been sitting in my garage forever, just waiting for the opportunity for a new life.

 

The post Painted Metallic Copper Drawer Pulls appeared first on Jennifer Rizzo.

from
https://jenniferrizzo.com/2018/10/painted-metallic-copper-drawer-pulls.html

DIY Metallic Leaf Art

I love trying out new product, and I recently was able to try out one of DecoArt’s new product called Texture. It’s a fun paint that has the consistency of a spackle.  I thought it would be fun to really play and see what I could do with it, and this DIY metallic leaf art was the perfect way to try it out.

I had a few large leaves lying around, and decided to try using it almost as a molding compound. You can see the full step by step project here on the DecoArt blog, but I put a little video together to show you a bit of the project behind the scenes:

While it comes in a lot of fun colors, I have to admit, I am sucker for the metallic paints, especially this time of year. It was fun to use it in my fall decor, and I love how the impression turned out.

 

There’s something about the approaching holidays that makes me love everything glittery and shiny (even though in a few weeks, I am going to be cursing glitter. I think by the end of December last year, I am sure I had eaten about a pound of it unintentionally.). I still love Christmas, and I still get that special thrill when I open my (affiliate link) Christmas decorating book every year! While I can’t stand to see holiday decor in big retail stores in August, I do get a little excited when I see everything come out about mid-November. It reminds me that the Holiday Housewalk is coming up!

 

 

I am excited to see how else I can push the limits of this product and see what else I can do with it. I think it has a ton of possibilities in making home decor, and used in mixed media!

 

 

This post was sponsored by DecoArt opinions are entirely my own.

The post DIY Metallic Leaf Art appeared first on Jennifer Rizzo.

from
https://jenniferrizzo.com/2018/10/diy-metallic-leaf-art.html

New Driveway Makeover

Now that I’ve shared our front walk makeover, I have the new driveway  to share. I know it’s so much less exciting to look at, but I can tell you, it’s much easier to shovel in the winter!

When we moved in, it was one of those things that we knew we would have to do eventually, but it was such a big ticket item, that we put it off as long as we could. The last couple of years, it had so many weeds growing up through it, we knew we couldn’t put it off any longer, not to mention it was pretty embarrassing., and made out house look dumpy. I know in blogland, our homes are supposed to be perfect, because we make the pictures so pretty, in reality, that is far from the truth. In front of the expense of the driveway were medical bills, braces, and real life.

 So last fall, we finally decided to bite the bullet.   We did the front walk first earlier in the summer, and then waiting until fall to do the driveway. The timing worked out better for us that way.

We had a really great company for the driveway. They were courteous, clean and fast. We didn’t change much about it, except cleaning up the edges. Much of them didn’t really exist anymore since it was so overgrown.

This was a picture I grabbed a few days ago. The first time we drove on the newly paved driveway, I couldn’t believe how “not bumpy” it was. The last winter, it was so easy to clear the snow too. And, for the first time, my kids could actually roller skate on it.

 

We try to do one big project a year on our home. I would like to replace the garage door next year, but we do have another teen who needs braces, and a soon-to-be-new driver, so that may have to wait… a few years. In the spring, I will at least give it a good coat of paint or two.

All I can say, is I am so happy it’s finally done! Do you have a project that’s you waited on a long time, and you were finally thrilled when it was finished?

The post New Driveway Makeover appeared first on Jennifer Rizzo.

from
https://jenniferrizzo.com/2018/10/new-driveway-makeover.html

Concrete Front Walk and Driveway Makeover

Last year, we finally got tired, when it snowed, of shoveling the black gravel that had become our driveway. We decided it was time to bite the bullet and replace both the drive and get a new concrete front walk. I’ll share the walk today, and the driveway next. I know I had blogged about it before a little, but I am excited to share it will you, finally grown in.

If you’ve followed me for a few years, you’ll remember how we had this:

And, then we went to this:

And, finally, a friend was getting rid of old limestone, so we hauled it a load at a time in our mini-van,and started digging.

 

While it was a great free front walk, and it looked pretty for a while, it wasn’t the easiest to shovel. By the end, it had gotten really weedy, so we just kind of gave up.

You can see part of our terrible driveway. The only thing that really made me sad about pulling up our walk, was all of the established plants. To make sure we could replant them,We dug them up, and I put them in a small planting area on the side of the house as a “holding garden” until the concrete front walk was finished.

To save money, we opted to keep our stoop, and just do the concrete front walk part. We had some discussion back and forth with the contractor about adding our curve. It was kind of weird. I wanted it to mimic our other path, and he kept telling us that we shouldn’t be a curve, to make it squared off.  I kept telling him we didn’t want a squared off walk, we wanted a soft curve, like we had on our flagstone path. Design-wise our house was so linear, why would I add more lines, and not break it up? I mean, come on, a split level is about the most linear house you can get; It’s a box, stacked on top of another box.

In the end, it turned out nicely, but honestly, we still wanted more of a gentle sloping curve, but kind of gave up in the end.

It’s such an improvement over the old path.

Within a week, we had the plants out of the holding garden, and back around the new front walk.

This year, we have a lot more annuals, than I normally do, but I couldn’t stand to see blank spots. Plus, I did our local garden walk, so that required extra planting as well.

Luckily, we’ve had enough rain this year, so that everything filled in beautifully. I’m happy that my Mums , and Autumn Joy Sedum are filling in, even though the Hosta have decided they were checking out for the year. We’ve still have had a few,last, warm days so we can actually enjoy the outside for a little bit longer.

 

The post Concrete Front Walk and Driveway Makeover appeared first on Jennifer Rizzo.

from
https://jenniferrizzo.com/2018/10/concrete-front-walk-and-driveway-makeover.html