I'm so excited to share the Laundry Room Makeover Reveal with you!! Some of you may have been impatient with me as I shared my laundry room makeover in bits and pieces. It all started last summer and then finally a few weeks ago, I made up for lost time. Have you ever wanted to makeover a room, but had no funds in your account? Don't let that stop you. My zero budget forced me to get creative with what I had around my house and proved to me, once again, that I don't need to let the lack of money prevent me from making my home extraordinary. My laundry room makeover was a fun … [Read more...]
When you live in an older home, circa 1950, with a basement laundry area, you just might not have all those wonderful modern, out-of-sight hook-ups for the washer and dryer. So what's a gal to do when she doesn't like looking at the vent and the water faucets? Create a cute laundry room skirt to hide the "unmentionables." It really is an easy solution. And a pretty cute one too!! Last year, I happened upon a bag of miscellaneous fabrics for $1 at the thrift store. It was truly a mixed bag. When I decided to create a skirt to hide the "unmentionables" in my laundry … [Read more...]
Hello, my name is Diane and I am enamored with chalkboard art. Chalkboards and chalk and I go way back. Last year at Christmas, I tried my hand at creating some chalkboard art. It wasn't magazine worthy by any stretch. However, that did not stop me from attempting to create some laundry room chalkboard art. [wink] You see I have this little laundry room makeover that I started last summer. And because I'm a finisher, I decided it was high time that I get the project done. So I started with giving you, and me, the ultimate inspiration, including a 'before' picture. … [Read more...]
It's been a busy week, but the laundry room makeover is almost complete! And today I'm going to show you some of the art that I created for my laundry room decor. As you come down the stairs and turn to the left, this wall is the focal point of the laundry area, here's the before shot. Because I wanted the area to look whimsical and inviting to do laundry, I decided on my zero budget to create art for my laundry room decor with what I had on hand; some clothespins, black cardstock, leftover paint, and a thrift store find. My laundry room decor began … [Read more...]
Have you ever gone for a walk only to come back with a treasure from the roadside? Last spring I went for a lunchtime walk on an unseasonably warm and bright day. About a block and a half from my house I noticed a pile of disassembled furniture and other sundry items at the curb of a home that had recently been sold. Evidently the home was part of an estate and the remaining items had to be disposed. As I walked by slowly, I noticed some tall French provincial cabinet doors stacked on top of each other amidst the partially deconstructed cabinetry. As I continued my walk down that very long cul-de-sac, I … [Read more...]
Can you believe this.... was this? Found clam turned glam with gold! Darlene of Fieldstone Hill Design has had a weekly post where she challenges her readers to {DITTO} something in home decor or fashion. Last month, she invited a select group of bloggers to her first bloggers' {DITTO} challenge. A few of my favorite bloggers like Edie and Melissa were in the group. For June, Darlene opened the invitation to anyone who wanted to participate in each month's design challenge. You, too are invited to take the challenge and link up your … [Read more...]
It's been really windy around here lately. I even have to wear a cute ball cap so that I don't end up eating my hair while I take my daily constitutional. Doesn't that sound so important....daily constitutional? The wind was so strong that it kept blowing my cap off my head. My ponytail fed through the expansion hole in the back didn't even help to keep it on. My dad used to say, "The wind doesn't blow for nothing." It's a funny remark. But...whenever the wind kicks up, I'm reminded of his phrase. The wind didn't cease through the night. The next morning I woke … [Read more...]
Back in my old stomping grounds, it's tulip time. It's a fabulous celebration of tulips and things Dutch. The funny thing is, usually before or after the big shin dig I'd drive over to see the tulip displays and fields of tulips. But, I never attended the parade or any of the festivities. I have a slight regret. When you live in an area most of your adult life, you think you're going to have plenty of time to 'get there.' After all, we had built our 'forever house.' We lived in one of the loveliest places in the country, a true vacation destination, of course there would be plenty of … [Read more...]
Do you have a framed print that you like, but the mat needs to be refreshed? Several people have commented about this wall art which makes an appearance whenever I share a new vignette on my piano. This is the latest iteration. Today I'm going to show you an Easy DIY Book Page Mat Tutorial. Last year I picked up a typical pink floral print with a mauve mat in a gold frame from the thrift store. It screamed early 90's and I had no idea what I was going to do with it. So it sat in my studio whispering my name. By now, you must know that I am smitten with book pages. Is it because … [Read more...]
Remember how I said I was embracing Winter? Not anymore! Today I flung open the doors and welcomed Spring with open arms. Well not literally...it's only 27 degrees! Instead, I exercised my decorating creativity and paper crafting skills to make a fun pennant banner embellished with colorful birds and music pages from vintage hymnals. My vintage window has now undergone its third transformation since I received it as a gift on Thanksgiving. Take a peek at it as a Christmas Window and later as a Valentine Window. Who knew that an old window would make such a fabulous … [Read more...]
Cloches. I love the look of a cloche in a vignette. You too? But, cloches can be expensive. What do you do if you love the look but don't have one in your stash? Choose any tapered cylindrical container... invert it over your object and voila! you have a cloche! Isn't that easy? How many glass containers can your repurpose for a cloche? This vignette on my sideboard may look a wee bit familiar to you. That's because I recently shared about it here. Marty from a Stroll Through Life also enjoys cloches in her decorating. So much so, that she decided to turn her regular … [Read more...]
Moments. That's what my friend calls little vignettes. Don't you just love that term? How to Create a Simple and Easy Valentine's Day Vignette As I was organizing my studio, you know, the one I talk about showing you but never do? I uncovered a little frame I picked up at the thrift store last year, and I remembered Jennifer's post I had read that morning and pinned, and just like that...I was inspired. So instead of defaulting to "too busy," I sat down at my table and had some Valentine fun creating a little 'moment.' If you follow An Extraordinary Day on Facebook, you'll … [Read more...]
A sweet dear friend inherited a mahogany sideboard, china cabinet, and table several years ago which really weren't her style. After I moved out-of-state, she asked me if I would like the furniture, saying that the pieces would look great in my "new" house. After a 4-hour trip her heirlooms easily made themselves at home in my house. The sideboard fits perfectly in the dining area of my great room and the table opens out so I can seat 14. Perfect for all my entertaining. Happy me! This furniture, though good quality, was not in perfect condition. And the sideboard, in all its … [Read more...]
Is your kitchen the work horse of your house? Is it the place where your family hangs out? Is it the homework station or craft station? Is it the dropping ground for everything from mail to hand tools? Or is your kitchen your hangout, the place where your creativity goes wild? William Hefner On my An Extraordinary Day Facebook page I regularly post kitchen photos. I seem to be a bit obsessed with kitchens lately. Maybe it's because I have a kitchen that mostly works, but isn't my style. Maybe it's because my kitchen is the smallest kitchen I've ever had. Maybe it's … [Read more...]
Copy Cat Challenge ~ with a twist! When DebbieDoos announced the challenge and added..."With a Twist"...she had me!!!! Generally I'm not one who gets into copying something or someone. I like to take the essence and do my own thing. When I read the challenge, I immediately had something in mind. Back in May, Kristi of Addicted 2 Decorating did a series of posts about transforming her community patio into a restful and colorful place to relax. She did a great job. One of the things she did was to create her own Outdoor Rug with Painted Stripes. I'd been thinking that my porch needed a facelift. … [Read more...]
Wash. Dry. Fold. Repeat. Some household tasks are never done. Especially laundry. Photo snapped by my living in the country & loving it friend. Laundry Do you love it or hate it? Not long ago we had some work done in our basement. You may remember my unpleasant experience with the digging machine. When that work was nearly completed I decided that I wanted to throw some paint on the walls in my laundry room. Ahem, closet. The washer and dryer were out of their tiny space and so it seemed that as the cement flooring was drying I should seize the day. Or in this case, … [Read more...]
