Hello sweet friends and welcome today! This week I shared some of my recent kitchen favorites and a surprising way to clean stainless steel appliances! Here is what has been going on with Lucy at Craftberry Bush, Taryn at Design Dining and Diapers and Jennifer at The Chronicles of Home. Please link up your recent projects and recipes down below… Enjoy all that incredible inspiration too!

Kitchen Favorites and Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances 

Paper Lemon Wreath Tutorial

What NOT To Do When Designing Your Kitchen : Treat Your Dog With BarkBox

Paver Patio with a Fountain
Vegetarian Sushi Dip Recipe
Everyday Tips for a Clean Home

Fresh Peach Tart with Cooking On The Front Burner

Fridge magnets with free succulent printables

Living Room Makeover by Seeking Lavender Lane

Simple Summer Mantle

Hello friends! Hope your week has been off to a nice start. We have had lots of work and play around here. More play than work ;), but you know the occasional yard work, house cleaning, etc… And while on the topic of house cleaning I can’t wait to share some fun tips with you today (as well as some of my recent favorite finds for the kitchen too).

Lets start with the cleaning though… We have had our stainless steel kitchen appliances for about 8 years now and for the most part they are going strong. But they kinda feel like I can never keep them clean! The streaks, finger prints and water marks are endless. Thus, driving me a little nuts, haha. Anyhow, I feel like I have tried it all when it comes to cleaning  them (expensive quality cleaners, magic erasers, windex, soap/water, the list goes on…) And let me disclose too that I did NOT come up with this magic cleaning method I am about to share, but rather wanted to show it really did work for us. And while at it, I should also say – that all appliances/finishes are different, so I can’t specify whether this works for everyone. I tested a section of ours, loved the results and then went to town. O.K… are you ready for me to stop babbling and just share it already ?! 😉

Here is a real life close up of all the grime down below. Now look up above you will notice the difference! Can you see it???

And just in case you can’t believe it, here is a closer up of the fridge door (bottom = dirty and top = clean)…

Here is our drippy dishwasher too (just lots of water stains).

And here below is the clean after!

So after many attempts at clean appliances… I think I have the winning ticket. I cleaned the appliances first with my household spray to begin. But recently had remembered that olive oil had been something I used when my babies were little because it was a non toxic way to clean. I had heard the idea somewhere (again not my original idea) and used it years back. I must have thought there were better ways to clean since I stopped doing it, but now I am convinced that this is the only way for me! Funny how we can have a hold of something good and let it go for a while…

I rubbed it onto the appliances with just a paper towel and the results speak for themselves! It seems to have held up well in the past (I’m not sure about it going rancid etc…) and today when it was hot out it did seem to sweat a bit on the surface in some areas, so I just rubbed it back in and there have been no issues since.

I feel like this beaming photo above and my writing on the topic seem like an infomercial ;)… but honestly, I am giving my true opinion here and was totally tickled with the real life results. Just thought it was something fun to discuss with you all.

My hubby was in the background today as I was cleaning and later mentioned… “what was up with the olive oil”? I must have really been shouting from the rooftops to the kiddos for him to notice my excitement from the other room, haha.

Alright, on to other kitchen hacks, favorites and tips… This rack has continued to be such a help in our small kitchen and lately I have even been hanging pans there as well.

These non- stick pans from Costco are SO great for eggs and this adjustable strainer from Ikea is the best for washing fruit, draining pasta etc. It sits atop the sink without standing inside and allows you to wash large amounts of berries without dropping them everywhere.

Our homemade kitchen spray is still a favorite to this day and you can find the recipe here (that is what sits inside our jar on the counter by the way). I also am in love with a new find to me, this Thieves Cleaner!

I recently picked these pretty butterfly bush branches as they were about to go and plopped them in the sink. I had to remove some of the leaves and critters before setting them in a vase.

And just because I can’t resist, here is that shiny dishwasher one more time next to my sink of flowers ;).

Speaking of flowers my very sweet friend Kelly at My Soulful Home has written a beautiful book!

It is called, My Soulful Home – A Year In Flowers and it is about floral design; full of gorgeous images, includes 12 floral tutorials and tips on caring for flowers.

It was released today and I wanted to share with you so you could take a look at it as well, you can find it on Amazon. I am sure you will think it is as lovely as I do!

And make sure to leave me some of your favorite cleaning tips for stainless steel if you have any, I would love to hear!

 

Hello there friends and welcome to The Inspiration Gallery this week! I recently had the pleasure of sharing our newly updated dining room and thanks so much for your sweet words about the space! I love visiting with you all and it means so much when I get to share these fun things with you all. Here is what has been happening with Lucy at Craftberry Bush, Taryn at Design Dining and Diapers and Jennifer at The Chronicles of Home. Enjoy all the creative inspiration down below and don’t forget to link up your recent projects and recipes as well! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Our Dining Room Update

How to paint a beach scene
How to keep white furniture clean

Amazing deal on Mrs. Meyer’s Products! : Retiring DDD – Check out the new look!

 

DIY Outdoor Bench Free Plans 

Macrame hanging for beginners

Closet Makeover by Grillo Designs

 

 

Our dining room got a little update friends and I am really enjoying it! I recently had the opportunity to partner up with Wayfair and try out their “View In Room” feature available on their app. I had the best time playing around with different decor ideas and this feature couldn’t be easier to use! Up above you will see our dining room before any changes were made. Even though our gathering spot was wonderful, I was thrilled to get to make some additions that I have been waiting to do and this was the perfect opportunity.

Down below I showed how I took the app and photographed different pieces into our actual space. This reminds me of the fancy software/programs available that allow you to arrange furniture in photos, except this is extremely user friendly! You search desired items from Wayfair on their app and then click on “view in room”. Within seconds that piece of furniture or lighting appears on your phone positioned in your space! Allowing you to see just how it would look.

Here is how I changed up our dining room and made plans to do so using this feature…

First, I found a bench from their selection and looked at it in our space.

You can even try it in different angles!

Then I knew I wanted a new chandelier for our spot, so I simply photographed it in place of our current one. Even though our old one was still hanging atop, I could still position the updated one over it and get a good idea of what it was going to look like. This is an authentic real life photo here with dog toys, cups, legos, lint roller and instruments – ha (keeping it real for you all)! This is just another great example of how easy this Wayfair app is as there is no need to rearrange everything to make it work well.

Here I got a visual for a large potted plant…

And lastly, a rug to finish the space off. Although I couldn’t show the rug exactly how it would look on our floor and under the furniture, it was still helpful in giving me an idea of color, layering, texture etc…

Now are you ready for the room all put together and in real life…?!

You can see all four of the items I chose in the room here and how they work together.

I created the design with a variety of styles and wanted an eclectic feel…

The blue rug grounds the space and the denim woven into the jute really enhances the texture.

I have always had a jute rug under our dining tables and find they work hard for the space without showing it.

What I especially LOVE about this rug is that it brings value to the space but is priced affordably. Gorgeous blue patterned rugs are very popular right now and this one has all those qualities, but because it is woven jute it displays as pattern too.

In addition, I wanted to have a lighting fixture that had a bit more modern shape to it, but still was chic and versatile. This beaded chandelier couldn’t have fit better! The beads are made to look like weathered stone and the oil rubbed bronze works with the pops of black in our sunroom as well. Thankfully, I could see all of this when using Wayfair’s app and when the chandelier arrived I knew how it was going to look before trying it at home.

We kept our table that I chalk painted a few years ago. It is a nice big size and I still wanted the bright white elements here.

It is the perfect fit for dinners, projects and more. In this case – making lemonade ;)…

The bench I chose adds just enough elegance to the spread while remaining contemporary with straight legs. The linen colored upholstery is a nice twist mixed amongst the crisp white table and walls.

And as you notice, our room is a sunroom surrounded by windows and large evergreens.

In previous seasons I have overcrowded this room with sideboards, mirrors and more. Lately, I have been craving simplicity and the thought of a large plant seemed to be what was missing in the corner of our room! This one is faux but oh so believable in person. There is no need for anything else in the space with this beauty stealing the show.

Wyatt seems to agree ;)…

Here you can see how our sunroom is one long room with our family room on the other side. This shot allows you to see how the two fit together.

To make the spaces cohesive I added some black paint to our french doors. Now it is a focal point in the center, cost hardly anything to do (as I used leftover paint) and completes the look.

All these small details and decisions were such a treat to plan and part of why I take delight in decorating!

It’s about having fun and making your spaces reflect those who have the pleasure of living there.

It is an expression of your tastes and what makes you feel at ease or at home.

A place to enjoy sweet simplicity, turn lemons into lemonade and the list goes on.

Wayfair made that easier with their app (which I intend using more of) giving you a preview before deciding and finding the perfect piece(s) for your home.

Of course it’s no surprise that my kids are loving the addition of black doors and a blue rug (any addition of color in our home is a big deal), lol.

This guy is easy to please.

I hope you enjoyed this reveal as much as I had putting it together! Here are the pieces I picked out using their “view in room” feature and showed you today in our home:

•  Mallory 5 light pendant – similar pendant here
• Leno Upholstered Dining Bench
• Gilcrest Natural/Blue Area Rug
• Artificial Foliage Rubber Tree in Pot

A big thank you to Wayfair for providing these lovely products for our home and allowing me to try it out with their app. Make sure to head over to download the Wayfair app here for yourself and try out their “View in Room” feature! New customers can get 10% off when you download the app and sign up!

*Wayfair provided the furnishings listed above for this post but all opinions are 100% my own.

 

Hello again! I just shared a little bit about how we have been taking time to enjoy around our place. Summer has been wonderful… Here is what has been happening with Taryn at Design, Dining and Diapers. Please make sure to link up your recent projects/recipes down below and enjoy the inspiration all!

Taking Time To Enjoy…

Master Bedroom Hardwood Reveal : DIY Faux Bois Vase : Top Posts of 2017 So Far

 

Early Grey Tea Popsicles with Brooklyn Farm Girl

DIY Floating Shelves by Repurposed and Upcycled

Hello friends! Hope that your summer has been off to a good start! I can hardly believe that we are here at the beginning of July… is it possible that before I know it summer will have passed?! This week has felt slow, but the kind of slow that is rewarding. We spent the last few weeks camping, traveling and spending time with extended family. We have loved it and as it came to a close we also found ourselves excited for down time. Mornings where the kiddos color at the table and spend afternoons riding circles on their bikes.

Time for snuggles and quality interaction. Putting the pause on fast pace and looking each other in the eyes during later dinners…

Yearning for treats even though we have had too many… 😉

Slower mornings and fresh clean sheets…

Actually enjoying all that hard work put into projects and getting things ready for the season.

I am always reminded that there really isn’t anything quite like summer. Although Christmas has undoubtably been a favorite time of year, Summer is trying to win my heart over.

And of course, in the middle of all that fun there is still some time for house projects… such as these black painted french doors and a little sneak peek at an area in our home that got a few updates – can’t wait to share soon! Have a wonderful rest of your week and see you at The Inspiration Gallery!

 

Hello all and welcome to another week of The Inspiration Gallery! I shared how to easily entertain during the summer season with dollar store glasses, twinkle lights and fresh flowers. Here is what has been happening with Lucy at Craftberry Bush, Taryn at Design, Dining and Diapers and Jennifer at The Chronicles of Home. Please make sure to link up your recent projects and recipes down below and as always, enjoy the creative inspiration!

Holiday Entertaining for Summer 

Painting textured roses
Patio update
Summer home tour
Lemon print teatowel DIY

Backyard Entertaining Ideas : Black and White Summer Home Tour : Pineapple Pillow Tutorial

 

Summer Tour Part One
Summer Tour Part Two
Favorite Protein Smoothie Recipes
Caprese Stuffed Endive Recipe
Easy Light Switch Update

 

Classic White Kitchen Renovation (The Finishes) with Satori Design for Living

 

Whole House Paint Scheme

Yogurt Peanut Butter Banana Popsicles by Home Cooking Memories

DIY Shibori

Hello friends! Welcome today as I join some sweet and talented friends for the Styled + Set Summer Entertaining Blog Tour hosted by Lory at Designthusiasm… If you are visiting from Kelly at My Soulful Home, I am thrilled to have you here! Thanks so much for visiting.

I am sharing some easy entertaining tips for this beautiful summer season…

Most of which involve market fresh flowers, dollar store wine glasses and twinkle lights.

I wanted to switch things up and show how we entertain outside…

And even more, in a way that is budget friendly as well!

To get the this jewel toned inspired table it cost me around 20 dollars for the florals and the blue glasses.

From there, I used all my favorite dining pieces that I hand on hand – such as the bee embossed water glasses, red wine glasses, melamine plates, linen napkins, candles and my golden flatware.

Of course, I added some light knit blankets and lots of throw pillows for comfort.

You may have seen our outdoor patio before, but I made a small simple change for this set up. Since we have the sofa in an L-shape I moved the dining table to the sofa area. I originally had envisioned this patio being flexible and used this very way, so I was excited to actually try it out! For extra seating I then added our bistro chairs.

Eating outside in the summer time is such a treat, surrounded by flowers, greenery, golden sunlight and chirping birds.

As the sun goes down candlelight makes such a pretty scene.

Twinkle lights left over from the Christmas season make the perfect addition for nighttime conversation.

Paired with summer salads, ripened fruit and chilled drinks they all create a lovely evening for entertaining.

Simple can be beautiful and elegant all the same.

Moving some furniture around, adding pops of colorful glassware and using flowers to set the table make easy entertaining for the warm months ahead.

I hope you enjoyed our little spot today and make sure to go and enjoy Janet’s lovely post over at Shabbyfufu… she is so very talented and I know you will leave inspired!

Here is the entire group listed below from today’s tour as well…

 

Shabbyfufu

Randi Garrett Design

Maison de Cinq

My Soulful Home

Zevy Joy

 

Monday’s Posts

Shabbyfufu | Randi Garrett Design | Maison de Cinq | My Soulful Home | Zevy Joy

Tuesday’s Posts

Life on Virginia Street | Town and Country Living | Celebrating Everyday Life
So Much Better With Age | Decor Gold Designs | French Country Cottage

Wednesday’s Posts

Designthusiasm | Citrine Living | Bless’er House
StoneGable | On Sutton Place | French Garden House

Thursday’s Posts

Becky Cunningham | The Wood Grain Cottage | Eleven Gables

Hello sweetest friends and welcome today as I share our home dressed up for the Simply Summer Home Tour hosted by Nina at Nina Hendrick. This sweet lady is so very talented with a stunning home and I was thrilled to join in on this week’s fun.

The summer touches I added to our home this time around were pretty simple. I have really been decluttering our spaces as of late and am loving the lightness around our home. I wanted our decor to represent that too. Of course, a sink full of bursting peonies will do just the trick too ;)…

As summer approaches I love the idea of rich and airy greens. Ferns do just that in any area they are placed.

And truthfully nothing says summer more to me than drippy watermelon paired with citrus flavors.

Well on second thought, this little view here was candid as I caught my daughter rain in from riding her bike. She flew through the door flung open the freezer and grabbed a popsicle. The bike helmet, popsicle and glowing sunshine truly depicted summer time as a child for me. I loved catching this moment…

A few bright accessories line the counters and honey drizzled on anything makes summer treats that much better. Whether they be grilled peaches, cheese platters or ice cream at the end of a warm day.

All of it feels carefree and happy doesn’t it?

A time to enjoy summer markets, fresh produce, time off and vacation.

Here you will see our dining table simply set.

A pitcher of peonies, lime slices and bright white dishes are found on the table.

Colorful napkins make a small statement in a subtle set up.

Across from the dining room is our casual family room.

More varieties of ferns adorn the table surfaces and bring life to the area.

Pillows are neutral in tone and pattern with a couple rich pops of blue and muted pink.

Rattan balances the formal pieces making it feel ready for the season.

Heavy blankets are stored away till winter and light knits fill the room for breezy summer nights.

Again, I kept out fewer accessories this time and let most of the greenery steal the show.

As always bringing the outdoors in, one way or another is such an easy way to decorate.

It never goes out of style and can easily be achieved with store bought goods or something free from your outdoors.

Speaking of outdoors, we can’t get enough time out there this season. We have had fires, stories, meals and  I can’t wait for more. Making an extended living space on the patio has made for a lot of fun this summer.

I really appreciate you spending time with me here today and hope you will come to visit soon. A big thank you to Nina for hosting and make sure to visit the entire tour this week down below!

MONDAY
Nina Hendrick | The Happy Housie | Finding Silver Pennies | TIDBITS | So Much Better With Age

TUESDAY
Zevy Joy | A Burst of Beautiful | House by Hoff | Migonis Home | Just a Girl and Her Blog

WEDNESDAY
Nesting with Grace | Design, Dining, and Diapers | Bless’er House | The Wicker House

THURSDAY
Life on Virginia Street | Craftberry Bush | The Blissful Bee | Boxwood Avenue | The Chronicles of Home

FRIDAY
Love Grows Wild | The Wood Grain Cottage | Cherished Bliss | Making Home Base | The Turquoise Home

Hello all and Happy Monday! Welcome today as I join in on a fun DIY Summer Decor Hop hosted by my sweet friend Taryn at Design, Dining and Diapers! I am thrilled to have those of you who are joining here from Kelly at Live Laugh Rowe too! Lately, I have been incorporating lots of hanging planters in our decor and thought it would be fun to make one that held a variety of pots or herbs. Which brought me to today’s project that is a hanging herb garden! And in my opinion, herbs are the way to Summer’s heart!

The best part is that this project uses something pre-made and all it takes is a bit of adjusting to convert it to the finished product! I searched around town to find the right rope for what I had envisioned here, but then saw these simple macrame plant hangers at our local grocery store. As soon as I found them I knew they would work even better and do exactly what I needed! A win – win in the crafting world ;), lol.

Anyhow, here is what you will need to make one yourself…

• Simple macrame plant hanger
• A variety of grown herbs (small potted size)
• Coordinating pots to hold the herbs (if you don’t like the ones that your herbs or plants come in). Please note that plastic pots will sit a bit straighter and then terra-cotta or ceramic ones will hang a little more crooked due to their weight. *Any time you are doing something with food, make sure you are using food safe products too.

Here is how you will make these hanging herb gardens:

• Keep your simple macrame pot hanger hanging. Find one of the sections that you want to insert a plant into and start loosening up the knots up above. You can get them to slide up and down as you loosen them.

• You can see here how I took the knot and began to change the size or position of the loop hole. I made it smaller for the pot.

• Then tighten the knots as you have the pots in place. It is easiest to do this without plants inside but you can do it either way.

• Make sure the loops are tight and then start putting in your planted pots.

• Here you can see them hanging all ready to go!

• You will want to have this placed somewhere that it will not get knocked around easily, as they are tilted with dirt inside ;)…

And that is it!

I happen to love the beachy or boho-chic vibe that macrame plant hangers bring to spaces and this herb garden version is a sweet twist.

I used it in the kitchen to photograph, but I already have it moved outdoors onto our patio where I am loving it now too.

Vases of flowers are always a beautiful touch to any space as are live plants.

Even better, are plants that serve both as decoration and then for food.

That is one of my favorite ways to enjoy greenery throughout the kitchen.

This project was inexpensive, easy and useful all the same and just screams summer to me.

Summer months yearn for cooking and barbecuing all of which require fresh vibrant herbs.

This little garden fits the bill just right!

Don’t forget to enjoy the rest of the tour and go visit my wonderful friends Kristi and Kelly at Lolly Jane! These ladies are so talented and kind – I had the total pleasure of meeting them back in October…

Thanks so much for stopping by today and see you tomorrow for some more Summer fun!