Versatile Decor - Shopping Your Own House

With Christmas just around the corner, I've been pulling out all my holiday decor and planning how I want to add new special touches around the farmhouse this season. Every year I like to tweak things just a little bit. Changing or replacing a lot of decor all at once can get really expensive really fast. So rather than buying all new things, I like to "shop the house" instead.

Like most of us, I have a few closets where I like to store miscellaneous decor and I also collect a lot of primitive things in our barn. Natural elements really inspire me so I often explore outside gathering wood, acorns, leaves and pinecones to incorporate inside. And once I've made a massive mess by getting out of all my stuff, then it's go time! 

I don't know what it is about pulling out all my options and seeing it all spread out in front of me.. It just jump starts my creativity! Sometimes all it takes to see an item in a new way is to take it down from where you put it to begin with. It can be hard to imagine something else in it's place or a new use for something without moving it in the first place and clearing your mind. Start with a clean slate! So many times I've forgotten about things I have or pieces that I haven't used in a long time. It's so fun to swap things around and it saves me SO much money. Sometimes shopping around my own house for new ways to use my old things is all the inspiration I need! And it satisfies that urge to shop so I get the quick fix I'm craving without spending a penny!

I've never been one to splurge on a lot of trendy clothing or decor. I love what I love and although my tastes have changed and evolved over time, many of the classic pieces I've invested in still remain my favorites. I recently got a new fun item from one of my favorite shops and it's so versatile! I thought it would be the perfect example to illustrate how I often use a single piece of decor in many ways. The Box Spring Card Holder from Painted Fox can be used for so many occasions! Take a look at how it's travelled around our house..

Christmas Card Display

I found this small wicker wreath while unpacking some holiday decor. A friend had gifted it to me and I had forgotten I even had it! By adding some fresh greenery picked straight out of our backyard and "shopping my house" I was able to create this fun holiday display without spending a penny!

Nursery Vignette

My son's nursery is one of my favorite rooms to decorate.. Kid spaces are so fun! I found these cool vintage flash cards while shopping around at the Nashville Flea Market. I had originally strung them up to create a paper garland, but my bed spring card holder was the perfect piece to display them in a new way!

Farmhouse Mantel

Swoon... a farmhouse loving girl can never have too many tobacco baskets! This one sits on one of our six mantels and I swap out the decor here often. I was stumped for a long time on deciding how to display these flashcards, but my card holder provides a great layer of depth and texture in this space. 

Recipe and Mail Sorter

I have TONS of loose paper in my kitchen.. recipes, mail, shopping lists.. I need about three of these to organize it all!

Spare Bedroom Decor

Our spare bedroom is one of the only fully decorated spaces in our farmhouse at the moment. It seems as though every other room has something ripped out for the sake of renovation. But this one is a bit of a getaway for me when the mess of the house starts to get overwhelming and I want to sit in a room that feels like ME.  Not to mention, these are a few of my favorite things.. Chippy - Farmhouse - Home.

Would you like your own Bed Spring Card Holder to decorate in a million different ways? You can buy one at Painted Fox Treasures!

(affiliate link)

Making a house a home doesn't have to cost a lot of money. In fact, it doesn't have to cost any at all! Switching up your decor and "shopping your home" can be so much fun. It's even therapeutic for me at times! Maybe this will inspire you to play around with whatever you can find around your own place and give some of your things new life. Let your creative juices flow! Do you have any really versatile pieces that travel around your house? Show me!

-Lauren

Everything Home Magazine - Issue 1 Release!!!

Happy November! The day has finally arrived and our first issue of Everything Home Magazine launches today!

Happy Halloween! Our Radio Flyer Fire Truck

It's no secret that we absolutely love Halloween! Last year when Baker was only a few months old Brett traveled out of state to a Fire Conference and brought home the most precious little fire fighter uniform. This season it fit him perfectly and this costume just fell right into place! He ADORES everything fire related (no surprise!) and we can't seem to keep him out of his new ride. The first time he saw it he kept telling us Thank You over and over and over.. It just melted my heart! We've joked that maybe we should just turn it into a toddler bed since he loves it so much. ;) The fire truck fits right over his Radio Flyer wagon and it's going to make Trick or Treating around town so fun and easy! Especially if he gets tired! We've had so much fun this season already with fall festivals, Boo at the Zoo, and Trunk-or-Treating. We can't wait to hit the streets this weekend for some more festivities around town. The City of Columbiana hosts "Monster Walk" this weekend plus Baker will get to Trick Or Treat for real for the first time! We absolutely cannot wait!

Happy Halloween from Chief Baker!

Direct Link to purchase your own Radio Flyer wagon at the bottom of the post!

My inspiration for this actually came from a fire truck wagon made of cardboard. And of course Brett wanted to upgrade the idea! I headed to work one day and a few hours later he was sending me pictures of his progress. I literally gasped out loud when I got his photos! It was everything I wanted and then some! HE KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. HOME RUN. Once I saw the initial design he came up with I started to envision a little wooden fire truck toy. Similar to the miniature handmade trucks and toys he's built before.. I wanted it to look like a life size replica! And I was so excited to finish it that we started on the detail work as soon as I got home that day. We were up pretty late but sometimes when my creative wheels start turning and we're knee deep in a project the adrenaline hits and I just don't want to stop until I can physically see what I've been dreaming up in my mind. It's an addiction! A DIY addiction! We used all scrap wood from the wood shop, as well. The overall cost was minimal. Nearly free!

Fall on the Farm | 2015

Fall is in full swing and we're enjoying our second autumn in the farmhouse this year! I absolutely love Christmas time but I'll be so sad to pack up the fall decor after Thanksgiving. It's such a beautiful season. It's been a busy few months for us. We celebrated Baker's 2nd birthday in September and he saw the beach for the very first time in October. There is nothing better than seeing your children experience things for the first time. Everything is magical through their eyes! 

Brett has been super busy with work and he's been out of town quite a bit. Our kitchen is still torn apart, but we're slowly (very slowly) piecing it back together. The truth is I know exactly what I want to do. Knock down a major wall and rearrange the entire kitchen layout. But, that would mean having to install new flooring throughout the entire space. Unfortunately, that's just not an option right now. Lack of time and money are the two biggest contributing factors to the progress. But, if I'm being honest, the idea of not being able to implement my vision is the biggest mental hurdle. We have a plan to do a "band-aide" makeover of sorts. It will be a huge improvement in-and-of itself. But, it's still going to cost money. And there is something that just feels so wrong about spending money on renovations that we know we're going to change all over again. Especially when the budget is already tight! Does that make sense? That's the truth. I'm holding myself back. Which is totally non-instictual for me. Or for us, as a team.

For those who have asked.. Yes, the kitchen is functional! All of our appliances are still intact. We just removed all the large cabinetry and finishes that we knew were going to be pulled out anyways. We raised the ceiling and completed the electrical. We also reframed a new walk-in pantry. Those are all huge components! And as awful as it looks, I actually don't hate it. It's so open now that we've removed the upper cabinets. And it's been a good thing to have all this time in the space to really think about the design, layout and finish materials we want to use. I've already changed my mind about 10 times. A lesson in patience indeed! 

Property maintenance takes up about 90% of our time outside of our jobs! No surprise there. Anytime anyone asks us about our experience with acreage or owning a "fixer upper" or what they need to know to do it themselves - our answer is always the same: Work. You have to be willing to work. Skill set and knowledge are important, but I thoroughly believe if someone wants to learn something they will put forth the effort to do so. If you have the work ethic and you're willing to do the physical labor that comes along with caring for land then you can do it. No matter how many projects we have going on at once - the grass still needs to be mowed. This lifestyle and the responsibility of owning a home like this is certainly not for everyone! Free time seems extra hard to come by. However, it's something that we truly love so we make it a priority to make it work. It comes with many sacrifices but for us the rewards outweigh the cons. Slow project progress and long days but so much pride in ownership! 

Among other things, Brett recently finished a little cedar plant stand for me for the front yard. He always makes time to help me out with my projects and I'm so thankful for that. Every time I see something in our home that I know his hands have touched it makes my heart so happy. I know he works so hard and puts so much love into his work. It means the world to me to he gives so much of himself to our family. 

I wanted to share some fall photos with you to commemorate this season in our home! I love looking back each year to see what's changed from season to season. We can't wait for more fall fun.. trick-or-treating with Baker, Thanksgiving with our families and more evenings around the fire pit. I'm trying not to take this time for granted. Soaking up every little experience with Baker in this season of life! I sincerely hope you're all doing the same with your families, as well! 

(Edited to add.. Shutterfly featured our fall porch in this fun roundup! See it Here!)

Enjoy and Happy Fall from Stillwater Farm!

How to Antique New Galvanized Metal - Get The Look For Less!

I absolutely love the authentic natural patina of vintage metal pieces, but they can be a bit pricey! I've been collecting rusty garden accessories and decor for years and recently I scored a handful of olive buckets at Target for $5 on clearance! (Not to mention several adorable metal accessories out of the Target Dollar Spot. My guiltiest pleasure!) You just can't beat the $5 price and the buckets were just precious! My only hesitation was that they were just a little too new looking. And so commenced: Operation: Rusty Buckets. :)

I've seen tons of tutorials on Pinterest and blogs and I knew I wanted to give this DIY a try. I also want to be completely transparent in my trials and errors during this process! Spoiler Alert: I had some major fails! Rusty antiques can take years to acquire their perfectly aged patinas, but hopefully my tips can help you to speed up the process if you love the look as much as I do.

Galvanized metal is usually composed of zinc or iron with a steal coating sealed on top to prevent it from rusting. There are some products that you can use to remove this protective top coat and kick start the natural aging process. What I have learned through many, many, many attempts is that your success is ultimately determined by the actual make-up of the item you're trying to alter. You can have all the corrosive products in the world, but unless your bucket is prepped correctly AND is indeed made of a galvanized product - your attempts may be futile, as mine were! Your results can also vary drastically depending on the item and length of treatment. I've seen my pieces appear to only have a duller finish, with a full rusty patina and even end up with a foggy white finish. All were pleasing! Just be prepared for varying results. And just think of how unique your project will be! Not a single identical one like yours in the world! ;)

So here's what I started with and the look I was aiming to achieve:

Here are a few of the bulk products I had on hand to begin the aging process. There a few items I experimented with that are NOT PICTURED! (Lysol and Clorox toilet bowl cleaner, Zep Acidic toilet bowl cleaner, pre-mixed salt water, salt block, steel wool, tap water and rain water.)

You will also need gloves, a few utility spray bottles and buckets large enough to fully submerse your items in.

Items pictured: Bleach, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, muriatic acid.

Links to purchase all supplies at the bottom of the post!

My initial attempts to age my buckets to the extent I wanted were unsuccessful. I removed the rope handles and started by spraying them down with several coats of a muriatic acid and water solution. (Make sure you wear gloves and protective clothing if you're working with this product!) I repeated this process twice and barely noticed any changes. After the second try, I decided to take it up a notch and I scrubbed the buckets with steel wool, but this time I coated them with several coats of pure muriatic acid. 

Still no changes.

My third attempt was to spray them with salt water and let them sit outside in the elements and rain to see I could see any progress at all. After four days outside - nothing.

I then generously coated the buckets with the toilet bowl cleaners, but after three tries with three different brands I hadn't noticed any change. 

The Indestructible Bucket!

At this point, I realized that the bucket itself may be resistant to this process. I was pretty discouraged! But, I was determined to make it work on something! I grabbed a shiny metal milk jug that I also bought at Target and soaked it overnight in a solution of vinegar, water and bleach. I didn't measure the amounts. I just grabbed what I had on hand and poured it all into a large bucket. The metal needed to be completely submersed so I added water until the solution covered all sides of the jug. I don't have a photo of the jug before I dunked it.. Bummer! But trust - It was S.H.I.N.Y! Much more so than the olive bucket!

Here are the results after soaking overnight! JACKPOT!!!

I knew as soon as I pulled the jug out of the water that its finish reacted completely different to this treatment than the olive buckets had to my other tries. The photo on the left is immediately after removing it from the solution. The photo on the right is after rinsing in clean water and letting it sit outside for a few hours! And the longer it sits the rustier it gets!

LEFT: Just after soaking overnight in a water/vinegar/bleach solution RIGHT: Finished product!

The perfect patina!

So.. obviously after my success I decided to try the same technique on my buckets. Onto try number... 257!?!? 

Sadly.. here are the results. After soaking overnight in the same exact vinegar/bleach/water solution AND sitting outside in the rain afterwards AND another coat of acid - they barely look any different. Two thumbs down. :( Aside from literally getting a grinder on these things I've just about tried everything. My friend Kelly also suggested that we set a salt block in them and let that natural process try to corrode the finish, but to be honest, I was ready to throw the towel in and set up my porch decor!

The Indestructible buckets after their overnight soak..

Olive Bucket result after ALL attempts.

Overall, the buckets are ever-so-slightly more dull, but nowhere near the rusty finish I wanted. However, my milk jug looks AMAZING and I am so pleased with it! For a $5 investment I can honestly say these buckets will last you a longggg time and still look as good as new! The cheapest vintage ones I found at the Nashville Flea Market this weekend ran about $40+.. So I can appreciate my clearance finds for the new awesomeness that they are!

Our 2015 fall porch at the farm.

I sincerely hope you can learn from my trial and error and that these tips help you achieve your rusty vintage bucket dreams! Happy DIY-ing!

-Lauren

If you'd like to order any of the products I regularly use to achieve this look you can order them here!

(affiliate links)

Zep Commercial Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner, 32 oz Bottle

Lysol Power and Free Toilet Bowl Cleaner Value Pack, 2 Count

Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner With Bleach Rain Clean Scent Bottle 24 Oz, 2-Pack

SUNNYSIDE CORPORATION 710G1 1-Gallon Muriatic Acid

Clorox Bleach Regular, 64 oz White House White Distilled Vinegar 64oz

Bragg Organic Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar 32 oz

White House White Distilled Vinegar 64oz

Mad Buck Innovations Deer Brick Salt Lick Mineral Block with Exclusive Scent Cell, Acorn Scent

Red Devil 0320 8-Pack Steel Wool, 0000 Super Fine

COMING SOON! - Everything Home Digital Magazine

I am SO thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of Everything Home Digital Magazine! Everything Home Magazine is a monthly online home decor (& more) magazine that is written by your favorite bloggers and Instagram friends. Each month we will bring you new ideas for home decor, fun DIY projects, recipes, photo tips and much more! We will showcase small businesses & show you new ways to love the home you're in. The best part? Each column has its own hashtag for you to tag your photos with for a possible feature in the magazine! 

Happy Birthday Baker!

Our wild boy turned TWO years old this week! My oh my how time really does fly. No big party this year. We celebrated at home in our pajamas and had cookies and cupcakes for breakfast. (Which was a big hit, btw!) :) I threw together some last minute decorations the night before his birthday so he'd have some surprises to wake up to. He loved it!

Baker had lots of visits and phone calls throughout the day and he was spoiled rotten by all the people who love him! Meme and PawPaw gifted him a trampoline and Grammy and Grampy got him some cool kitchen accessories for his new play kitchen from mommy and daddy. The Quinney family put together an adorable tractor themed basket for him and our sweet friends Paula and Jay Jay showered him with gifts and love. He is one very loved little boy! Our pride and joy!

Possibly the most exciting part of the day was that my dearest friend gave birth to twins!!! They are absolutely precious and we are so thrilled for their family. What an extra special reason to celebrate! I anticipate lots of birthday fun in the future now that Baker gets to share his special day with two new buddies. Congratulations, Ashley and Mitchell! We love you all so much!

Charlotte and John Daniel - One Day New!

Enjoy a few birthday videos!

-Lauren

God Bless America

Happy 4th to you and yours! We had originally planned to host a big farm party to celebrate the holiday with our family and friends. The good news is that Brett received a promotion recently that he's worked so hard for! We are so proud of him! The bad news is that he had to switch shifts and fire stations and because of the shift change he had to work today and our party plans were put on hold. But it's ok! We still pulled out all of our patriotic decor and partied with our families a few days early.

Anyone who works in public service is probably used to these kinds of circumstances. We just roll with the punches. :) We're hoping to kick off summer next year with our First Annual Summer Shindig at the farm!

Link to purchase this bunting at the bottom of the post!