Auction houses are very unique places and winning auction lots can provide some surprises. This mirror was part of a seven piece lot we bought for $35. I don’t think we even knew it was there until we collected the lot items. It appeared very old and had seen plenty of use. The way the [...]

Ikea is a wonderful  source of contemporary design and it’s hard to resist the clean, simple lines just begging to be starting points for creativity. On my last trip to Ikea, some 2 hours away in Charlotte, I picked up a Knappa lighting fixture. The plastic panels seemed a perfect host for some decorative paper. Once [...]

I’ve been fascinated with refinishing and repurposing furniture since I was a teenager, some 40 years ago. I can’t say I’ve become an expert, but the fascination remains and I’ve been continually inspired by the amazing makeovers showcased on designer blogs and websites. Encouraged, I’ve decided to post some of my attempts here in the [...]

Random tiny boxes get a whole new look with the help of a square, stripe, or punch of paper. Before After Papers Used: Italian Marbled – Brown Freeform, Chiyogami - 533C, Chiyogami - 467C, Crepaldi Bookbinder’s Marble – Tan and Blue French Curl, Gilded Cork – Gold, Plaids & Weaves – Tiny Plaid in Black on Tan, & Exotic [...]

Back in April West Elm came out with this beautiful framed handmade paper and I fell in love. Or rather I fell in love with the concept, since the nearly $200 price tag was not really in my budget. The geometric design and slightly rustic texture of the paper reminded me so much of the [...]