There's No Such Thing As Candlestick Holders Among the many lessons I learned from my mom over the years, one is that the word Gloucester is pronounced glos-stir and another is that there's no such thing as candlestick holders. And she was right on both! The truth is Gloucester has nothing to do with this story but it still makes me laugh when I remember trying to pronounce the town she was living in at the time. What I'm really here to do is drop some knowledge about candlesticks AKA devices used to hold candles. See, there are candles and there are candlesticks. End of story. Except if you ..read more

Vintage Ikea? I teased this image on my social media channels and asked if anyone could guess what major retailer featured this furniture set in it's 1970 catalog. No one guessed correctly and I bet you won't either. I even got one message in jest asking if I meant to type 1913 instead of 1970. And truth be told, this style of furniture would seem much more appropriate in the Victorian Era rather than the 1970's. It's a classic example of styles and trends changing over time, yet coming back around years later. So, have an idea of where it's from? Ethan Allen, Sears, Bombay were common guesse ..read more

Art enthusiasts and bargain hunters alike often find themselves drawn to the allure of estate sales. These sales, which see the dispersal of personal belongings following a departure or relocation, have gained recognition not only for their unique offerings but also for their potential to yield affordable and exquisite art pieces and have become some of the best places to uncover art at budget-friendly prices. Here’s why estate sales are great places for sourcing art: Diverse Selection Estate sales offer a diverse blend of art styles, spanning from classical to modern, and embracing a range of ..read more

If you’re not already, now is the perfect time to start shopping vintage and second hand for your home. There are so many benefits to shopping second hand that will benefit both the earth and your wallet. 1. More Sustainable There’s no greenwashing here, buying second hand is 100% more sustainable than buying new. It keeps items out of landfills and it saves valuable resources that are needed to create the same item that you would have purchase new. 2. Leads to a circular second hand economy The life cycle of products is greatly extended when we choose to reuse, refurbish, repair and refurbish ..read more

Embroidery is an ancient craft that involves decorating fabric or other materials using needle and thread. It has a long and rich history, dating back thousands of years and remains a popular craft amongst artists and creatives. Needlepoint, cross-stitch, chain-stitch, crewel and bargello are all types of surface embroidery. These types of needlework can be traced back to prehistoric times when early humans used rudimentary techniques to sew animal hides and other materials. The art flourished in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, China, Greece and Rome where it was used to adorn garments o ..read more

10 Reasons Why You Should Shop Vintage and Second Hand for Home Goods by Willow Wright If you’re not already, now is the perfect time to start shopping vintage and second hand for your home. There are so many benefits to shopping second hand that will benefit both the earth and your wallet. 1. More Sustainable There’s no greenwashing here, buying second hand is 100% more sustainable than buying new. It keeps items out of landfills and it saves valuable resources that are needed to create the same item that you would have purchase new. 2. Leads to a circular second hand economy The life cycle ..read more

Top 5 Tips for Shopping Vintage by Willow Wright As someone who has been been visiting antique and vintage stores since I was a kid, I've learned how to shop them successfully! Here are my top 5 tips on how to shop any vintage or antique store and make the trip worth your while! 1. Make a list and come prepared If you have a piece in mind for your home, bring measurement requirements or that of allowable space. It’s also a great idea to have some images of rooms on your phone to show your dealer. They’ve curated the items in the shop and many have a great eye for design. Ask for their input-y ..read more

Step by Step Instructions to Create the Perfect Gallery Wall So, I have this thing for gallery walls. They’re such a great way to fill empty wall space, if you’re into that kind of thing. Bare walls give me the heebie-jeebies in my house, so I have to cover them up. I've created at least 6 in my current house and a number of them in our townhouse as well. And yes, I switch out images in some of the frames seasonally so one still says Merry Christmas. Add that to my list of things to get to. Here is my tried and true method of hanging art for a gallery wall. Supplies: Tape measure Hammer Nails ..read more

5 Ways To Refresh Your Home Without Breaking The Bank Spring updates don't have to be put on hold just because we're social distancing! As someone who feels a great urge to refresh my home around this time every year, I've put together a list of things that can help you create a space you love without leaving the house or breaking the bank! Rearrange the Space Now's the perfect time to grab a family member and have them help you move that couch or end table. Maybe there's another way the room can work for you. It might be as simple at rotating a coffee table or removing a heavy winter rug. Un ..read more

Whatcha Gonna Do With All That Glass? In October of 2019 Virginia stopped collecting glass as part of the weekly recycling program. Since then we've been filling up smaller recycling bins with all of our glass. We don't seem to generate THAT much glass waste aside for the occasional get together when there are excess beer and wine bottles. When the pile starts to topple over, we know it's time to take care of it. We thought you might also be wondering what to do with YOUR glass, so we put together some resources for you.. The Purple Containers If you live in the Northern Virginia area you can ..read more