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Christmas Home Tour 2013

Surprise!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

A secret that I’ve been keeping for too long can now be shouted from the rooftops.

I am one (#17 to be exact) of the 25 homes on the amazing Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour.  I am so excited not only to show you around my home but to be amongst a great group of Bloggers who are opening their doors this Holiday season.

If you’re new here, you just headed over from the house tour by Vanessa of At the Picket Fence.  Wasn’t it amazing?!  She has a beautiful home and opened her doors for all to see in the Creating a Meaningful Home series earlier this year.  She is just the sweetest person ever!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 16 - Vanessa of At the Picket Fence

Ok, well let’s get this tour started.  Are you ready?

Welcome.  Grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if you prefer) and stay awhile.  Let me show you around.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

The new addition to this year’s Christmas decor is our new white Christmas tree.  Wanting to have a bling, bling pretty tree, this new beauty sits in the blue room, a.k.a. my office / family room.  With the dark hue on the walls, the white tree with varying shades of gold & brown ornaments, is the perfect contrast.  This room is a favorite of mine in our home because of all the light that comes shining through from dawn to dusk.  The filtered light accents the golds + my new disco ball just right!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

The coffee table got a quick festive makeover by using a round mirror as the centerpiece topped with a montage of Christmas favorites – gold trees, ornaments, the light turned vase that I created earlier this year, and of course Santa.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Also on the coffee table is my newly created Nate Berkus knock-off wood block candle holder.  What do you think?  I love how it adds so much height to the vignette.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Transitioning to the dining room, I used a few similar ideas by using another mirror – the clock turned mirror – as the dining room centerpiece topped with more gold trees (that I scored from the Christmas Tree Shop last year) and a small tree adorned with miniature ornaments.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Simply, but elegantly set, our Christmas table is filled with a whole lotta candles – one of my favorite items to decorate with.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

The buffet is set with treats for all to enjoy.  As I shared earlier in the week, the sidebar / buffet in the dining room is filled with varying sized glass jars, ceramic houses, and other festive decor.  My favorite element of the space is the charlie brown tree with colorful ball ornaments.  Okay, well it’s really not really a charlie brown tree, but instead branches from my backyard put into a glass jar to bring height to the overall space.  It would make a great table centerpiece too.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Also in the dining room is my kids favorite part our home tat the Holidays, the Christmas Countdown Tree that I made using pallets and leftover scraps of wood.  It’s such a whimsical, colorful handmade creation!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Heading over to the last space in our home, the living room.  Our hang out space…

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

And there is a peak at our other Christmas tree…  The tree that is filled with our family’s sentimental ornaments that we’ve collected, made, and bought over the years.

The main wall of the living room features our mantel and it’s totally decked out for the Christmas season.  A large wood panel is set as the backdrop with my newly created vintage-inspired  J-O-Y sign as the focal point.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Other pretty festive elements adorn the fireplace and the creme de la creme are the felt + dropcloth Christmas stockings that I made a few years ago.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Another handmade element that we love + adore is the Christmas Card Holder where we treasure and enjoy all the cards and photos that family and friends send throughout the Christmas season.  How do you display cards sent to your family?

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Well that’s the end of the tour.  I wish it wasn’t over, but I really hope you enjoyed our home decorated for Christmas.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Hasn’t the Holiday House Tour been fabulous?!  We’re only on day 3 of the tour, and there are many more houses to see.  So don’t stop here!  Grab another cup of joe and head on over to my friend Roeshel’s house at The DIY Showoff.  She is an amazing creator and surely won’t disappoint.  ENJOY and Merry Christmas!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 18 - The DIY Showoff

 

Christmas in a Minute: Vintage-Inspired JOYful Sign

Happy Monday!  What a busy week upon us with Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and the official start to the holiday season.  As the crazy Christmas sprint begins, I’m thinking simple, easy, and quick.  So this weekend, I created this fun + easy vintage-inspired JOYful sign.  Scraps of wood and a little bit of paint makes this a simple and very inexpensive creation.  It would be great for the mantel, outside patio, or as a gift.

Here’s the breakdown…

Christmas in a Minute: Vintage-Inspired JOYful Sign created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Simple-to-follow tutorial on how to create a JOY sign

1. Cut the wood to your desired height and width. I used leftover pallet scraps to create this sign, but you could also use new wood instead.  I like the old pallets because they’re free, plus they have a distressed, worn look, which means no “beating up” the new wood.

2. Create the sign and sand.  If you have more than one piece of wood, you’ll need to attach them from the back.  Across the two pieces of pallet boards, I nailed two smaller pieces of pallet scraps on the back so the sign stayed together. Then I gave the wood a good sanding on the top and sides.

3. Paint the sign.  I painted the base of the sign with plain ole’ white paint leaving some of the raw wood to show through.

4. Outline letters.  I freehand sketched the letters J – O – Y on the sign.  You could use a stencil or silhouette if you wanted.

5. Paint the letters. Then I filled in the letters with red craft paint.  I used about 3-4 coats, but it dried quickly.  To give an even more distressed look, I gently went over the surface with a piece of sandpaper (by hand).

And that’s it.  Pretty simple, right?!

Pallet Christmas Countdown

Christmas is a comin’!

In less than 10 days, we’ll be counting down the 25 days till the arrival of Christmas.  To make the countdown a bit more fun and bearable, since for every child (and maybe a few adults) thinks the 25 days leading to the special day are SO LONG, I created a Countdown Calendar in the shape of a tree using my favorite material, pallets and a few other leftover scraps of wood.  Check it out…

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Isn’t it so colorful?  The ornaments truly make it come alive.

When Lowe’s challenged the Creative Team to come up with something for the Holidays, I was so excited to create something unique and perfect to celebrate the coming holiday.  Last year, my December project was a creation for holding cards and this year, I wanted to create something just as dynamic.  When thinking about a project, I realized we didn’t have a countdown calendar, so that’s what this years project would be.

The project started out by taking 10 steps outside to the garage.  Yup, this creation was put together using only materials I already had on hand.  This is what I gathered…

  • Pallet and wood scraps – the more dented and imperfect, the better
  • Nails (3/4″ – 1″ deep)
  • Number stencil
  • Black Sharpie
  • Hammer
  • Circular Saw
  • (25) Colorful ornaments

1. I first started out by looking through my wood scrap pile and leftover pallet scraps.  I collected a bunch of pieces all in different colors and sizes.  The more imperfect the better.

Then I took some time and put a drawing together to figure out how many rows of wood would be needed and how the 25 ornaments would sit on the “tree”.  In the end, 7 tiers worked best and 2 of the rows have 4 nails, creating the 25 spots.

A little math is needed, but it wasn’t tough…

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

2. Now that the hardest part was over (a little mathematical equations), I laid out the pieces of wood to determine what looked nice next to each other and then the widths of each tier.

On the backs, I then labeled each row.

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

3. Then using a circular saw, I cut each piece to form the “tree” shape. Once that was complete, I added a scrap piece of wood to the backs of the pieces to attach them together.

Hammer, hammer, hammer using 3-4/” – 1″ nails.

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

I added a few more pieces of scraps (old paint sticks, to be specific) to the back.  This looks kinda messy, but hey, who’s lookin’ at the back???

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

No more looking at the back.  Let’s turn it over to the front where it’s prettier looking.

Now to the nails + the numbers.

4.  By eye (no more math needed), I marked the locations for the 25 ornaments.  Then I added a nail at each location leaving about 1/2″ exposed for the ornament to hang.

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

5. Once the nails were in, it was time for the numbers.  Using stencils I had from a previous Martha Stewart project, I outlined the numbers with a black sharpie.  Again, the more imperfect the better.

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Once the numbers were done, the project was complete.  And here’s the result…

Plain + Decorated.

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I love how it came out…

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

It’s so colorful and brings such whimsy to our holiday home decor.

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

The kids love it too and they can’t wait for the 1st of December to arrive to start adding an ornament each day.  While we wait, the ornaments that all came from this years Lowe’s collection, sit in the brass light turned container.

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I hope you enjoyed my latest creation as much as I.  It was fairly easy to make, and I loved that I was able to create it using materials I already had.  How much better does it get?!  The anticipation and excitement leading to Christmas day can be a bit challenging, but hopefully my countdown calendar makes it a tiny bit more fun.

Christmas Countdown Calendar using pallets and scraps of leftover wood.  Created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Winter spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on your iphone and/or ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration. And even better, this Pallet Christmas Countdown creation will be featured in the upcoming Winter guide – how cool, right?!

Lowes Creative Team Member

Also consider following Lowe’s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

 Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

Easiest + Fastest + Cheapest Tree Skirt EVER

Monday Morning Confession: I already started decorating for Christmas.  It might seem early for some, but I have a few surprises up my sleeve that I wanted to prep early for this year.  While many of my daily favorites get tucked away for the next 6 weeks, the holiday decor is once again making it’s debut for another year.  As some ‘old’ traditional elements remain, there are many new projects and vignettes that I’ll be sharing over the coming weeks.  One in particular is my new tree skirt.  Definitely the easiest + fastest + cheapest tree skirt you ever did see…

Easiest, Fastest, + Cheapest Christmas Tree Skirt.  Use 1.5 yd of fabric and wrap around tree.  Follow easy instructions by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

For the last few years I’ve wanted a new tree skirt.  I had grand plans of making something beautiful and chic, but honestly it just never happened.  And anyway, is something pretty + most likely expensive, even worth it?  I’ve found over the years that the tree skirt ends up getting thrown around either from the kids or the cats, and then once the presents are added, you don’t even see it.  Well this is in my house anyway. maybe it’s different in your casa…

So after living with no tree skirt for a few days once the tree was up, I thought let me test out this pretty black and white striped fabric.  I threw it under the tree and loved it’s whimsical, non-perfect, simple look.  Plus it cost me nothing. So here we go… The black and white striped fabric I had on-hand was 1 yard, but I would recommend using 1.5 yards or even 2 yards for a fuller look. I placed the fabric in front of the tree.

Easiest, Fastest, + Cheapest Christmas Tree Skirt.  Use 1.5 yd of fabric and wrap around tree.  Follow easy instructions by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Then took the two top corners and wrapped them around the  bottom of the tree so they meet in the back.

Easiest, Fastest, + Cheapest Christmas Tree Skirt.  Use 1.5 yd of fabric and wrap around tree.  Follow easy instructions by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Easiest, Fastest, + Cheapest Christmas Tree Skirt.  Use 1.5 yd of fabric and wrap around tree.  Follow easy instructions by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Lastly, I tucked the bottom corners and all the loose edges underneath.

Easiest, Fastest, + Cheapest Christmas Tree Skirt.  Use 1.5 yd of fabric and wrap around tree.  Follow easy instructions by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Literally, this took all of 30 seconds and it was done.

Easiest, Fastest, + Cheapest Christmas Tree Skirt.  Use 1.5 yd of fabric and wrap around tree.  Follow easy instructions by @Jenna_Burger of WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

By the end of the day, the tree skirt is all dishuffled anyway, so within seconds it looks good again.  There really is no right or wrong to this tree skirt, which makes it perfect for me!

And the best part is, it cost nothing and the fabric can be used for something else after the Holidays.  Next year, I may want a totally different pattern and I won’t be married to something store-bought or a creation that took hours. I hope you enjoyed my 30 second tree skirt creation.  Sometimes the easiest things are the best!

Be sure to check back next Monday when I’ll be partnering with a few Blogging friends who will all be sharing super simple holiday projects for our Christmas in a Minute series.  Cheers to a festive season. xo

DIY: Wood Spice Rack

Earlier this week, I shared my newly organized kitchen cabinet interiors where I added multiple materials to make the vertical space on the interiors of the doors super useful.  One specific element that made a world of difference, as far as storage, are the 2 wood spice racks that I made from scratch.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

While originally gathering materials for the project, I was on the search for pre-made spice holders.  I didn’t have a specific style in mind but was hoping for wood.  In the end, I didn’t find anything, so instead I DIYed them.

One of the best sponsor gifts I came away with from Haven over the Summer was my new Kreg Jig Jr.  I had been eyeing a jig for a while because it makes building furniture so much easier by allowing for the screws to be concealed.  When the wood spice holder came to mind, I knew this was the perfect first project for using my jig.

Kreg Jig Jr.  Great tool for small do it yourself projects.  Made a spice rack for my first project.

But before getting to that, I headed to Lowe’s for my materials.  I purchased (1) 1″ x 3″ x 8′ piece of wood, which are the actual dimensions of 3/4″ x 2.5″.

And here is the breakdown of the pieces needed:

  • (2) Side Pieces – 3″ high x 2.5″ wide
  • Bottom Piece – 2.5″ wide x 11.5″ long (length to be adjusted depending on cabinet door width)
  • Dowel – 1/4″ round x 12″ long (length to be 1/2″ longer than bottom piece)

A picture to explain it further…

Wood components that make up creating a DIY Wood Spice Holder by @Jenna_Burger

And a quick drawing to explain it even more…

This is a front on view of the cabinet and the spice rackComponents that make up creating a DIY Wood Spice Holder by @Jenna_Burger

The first step when using a kreg jig is to figure out the depth of the wood to set the jig placement.  My wood depth was 3/4″, so the jig and depth collar on the kreg drill bit were set to 3/4″.  Kreg really makes using this handy-dandy gadget SO EASY!

Setting the jig and depth collar on the kreg drill bit to the width of the wood

After securing the wood and the jig with a clamp, I drilled a hole on each end of the base piece.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

Once that was complete, it was time to add the (2) end pieces + the dowel.

Sorry for the lack of pictures for this part.  I was so excited about my new jig I forgot to grab my camera.  Anyway, positioning about 1/2″ down from the top of the end piece and 1/2″ in from the front, I drilled a 1/4″ hole about 1/4″ deep for the dowel to fit in.

Then I put the dowel in the two end pieces and connected the end pieces with the bottom piece using the Kreg screws specifically made for 90 degree connections.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

After filling in the holes with paintable putty, it was complete.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

I decided to add some color to the new spice holder and used Valspar Spring Sprout in Satin.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

In about 10-15 minutes, this was the result…

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I attached the newly made wood spice holders using a very very very strong adhesive – Loctite Epoxy Instant Mix.  Basically it’s two formulas that mix together and provide a major adhesive mixture. DO NOT TOUCH IT.  I carefully applied the mixture to the back of the wood holder and placed it on the interior of the cabinet.  I held it in place for about 3-5 minutes until it was completely adhered to the surface.  I will be honest, the wood started to slide a few times, but I was close by and slid it back into place.  There are other epoxy mixtures that dry even quicker – 1 minute of less.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I was a total novice at using a jig and I was very happy with the results.  I couldn’t believe how easy it was.  Now I can’t wait to get my hands dirty with even more furniture projects.  Boy, do I have a list!

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

To see how I organized the rest of this cabinet, plus more of my kitchen interiors, head over to Kitchen Organization: Ideas for the Inside of the Cabinet Doors.

How do you organize your spices? In a cabinet or in a drawer?  Is this project something you think you would tackle?  With every new tool, there is a learning curve, but it was fairly easy.

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for the Inside of the Cabinet Doors

Happy Monday!  I was feeling a bit under the weather last week which is why the blog and my other favorite places to share + converse on the ‘net’ – IG, FB, etc – were quiet.  I’m still not feeling 100%, but am excited to share something I’ve been working on lately…  getting my kitchen organized.

For me, organization is a never ending battle.  I never feel like everything completely has a home, but I’ve accepted that and continually try to work towards creating a more efficient, more organized home.

When Lowe’s put to me to the challenge this month to tackle the kitchen, I knew it was a win-win.  To start off, I took a step back to analyze how the space could be more organized and user-friendly for cooking and storage.  I made a few moves of pots and pans, but what I really wanted to put-to-good-use was the insides of the kitchen cabinets. All that vertical space going unused?  The ideas started to flow…

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

My kitchen isn’t small, but it isn’t huge either.  With no pantry or extra storage for food, I’m always thinking about how to best store the food / “pantry items” in the cabinets.  For the most part, we eat real food / very little processed food.  That means no snacks that have to be stored for a long period of time because the food I buy has little “shelf time”.  Good for me, that the food we buy takes up less shelf area.  Bad for me, I go food shopping a lot.

Anyway, there is one large cabinet that all the food is stored in.  It’s a large cabinet at about 30″ wide with (2) doors.  Take a look…

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COMdon’t you just love peaking into other peoples cabinets??? What are they eating?  What do they buy?  We use a lot of coconut oil – 3 jars right there in front.

Great change, right?!  Nothing from this space had to go, but instead everything was reorganized to be easier to get at in an instant.

Let me show you a bit more of what I did…

On the inside of the left cabinet, I lined the inset panel with stylish geometric patterned contact paper.  Similar to what I did for my TV cabinet back in the Summer.  I purchased the roll of contact paper at TJ Maxx for about $5 – what a great score.

Once I aligned the contact paper on the cabinet and pulled off the backing, I used a straight edge to trim the excess.

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Once the contact paper was adhered, it was time to dress it up.

Before my interior cabinet updo, I never had a great place for spice storage, so that was a major need on my list.  I looked around for pre-made styles, but nothing fit the bill just right, so I made my own.  I’ll show you more on that in an upcoming tutorial, but this is the result…

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger,WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

For less than $8, I created 2 fit-to-size wood spice racks.

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

At the top of the interior of the cabinet, I added a half round piece of trim, which I then added metal screw-in hooks to.

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I attached the half round piece of trim + the newly made wood spice holders using a very very very strong adhesive – Loctite Epoxy Instant Mix.  Basically it’s two formulas that mix together and provide a major adhesive mixture. DO NOT TOUCH IT.  I carefully applied the mixture to the back of the trim and spice holder, then placed it on the interior of the cabinet.  I held it in place for about 3-5 minutes until it was completely adhered to the surface.  I will be honest, the wood started to slide a few times, but I was close by and slid it back into place.  There are other epoxy mixtures that dry even quicker – 1 minute of less.

DIY: Wood Spice Rach Holder for inside the kitchen cabinets; Less than $8 to make, in 15 minutes by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

It really is the perfect spot to hang many of the kitchen utensils.  Here’s the result…

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Heading over to the other cabinet, the right side, I added a decorative magnetic metal sheet that I found at Lowe’s and adhered it to the inset panel with 3M 77 Multipurpose Adhesive.  I sprayed the adhesive outside on a towel and then ran brought it indoors and positioned it.  All went to plan and my fingers only stuck together a little, phew…

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Having the magnetic sheet on the inside of the cabinet door has been GREAT! This large vertical spot is great to keep my grocery list, to do’s with the kids, and of course our random chinese fortunes…

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

For the interior of the cabinets, I took everything out and simply organized it all.  Well, it wasn’t simple, but it sure was worth it!  For things that could be grouped – like snacks, baking supplies, medicines, teas, etc. – I added bins and labeled them with washi tape.  So easy.  The bins are from ClosetMaid available at Target and they are leftovers from when I reorganized the kids rooms.  They are the ideal size for a typical kitchen cabinet.

For the rest of the food items, I grouped them and organized them as I saw best for how / when I would use them.  Really no rhyme or reason…

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

On to the other large cabinet, the space that holds ALL the dishes.  Another material that I thought would be extra helpful in staying organized in the kitchen was cork.  I purchased a roll of cork and double layered it, then added it to the inside panel of the cabinet interior, again using the 3M Multipurpose Adhesive.

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

This is such a great spot for the school calendar, plus random coupons, and reminders.  I also use the cork board when following a recipe.  I pin it on the board and it’s right in front ready to follow as I’m prepping.

Also on this inside cabinet, I added another half round trim piece for added storage.  Right now all I have is a pin with a pen hanging, but it can be used for so many other things.  Maybe more kitchen utensils???

Here is the result of my kitchen organization, with all the doors open…

Kitchen Organization: Ideas for storage on the inside of the kitchen cabinets by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Inside and out, I’m loving this space.

If you haven’t been following along with my blog from the beginning, you might not know that I redid the entire kitchen by hand (total down-and-dirty do it yourself) a little over 2 years ago.  It included painting cabinets, painting the countertop, adding backsplash tile, adding decorative brackets,and more.  See the before and after by clicking here.

I’m still on a path for more organization, but I feel one step closer to a more efficient space.  On to the next room…

I truly love using every square inch of a space.  Vertical surfaces often are forgotten as the ideal spot for storage.  If you use all the interiors of your kitchen cabinets, how much more could you store??  Ask yourself.

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Fall and Winter spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on the iphone and ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

Lowes Creative Idea Network Creator & Influencer

Also consider following Lowe’s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

 Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine! Fall Blogger Badge 1

Bring the Outdoors In: How To Create Fern Art

This post brought to you by Apartments.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

While tackling my foyer revamp, I gave a lot of thought as to what type of artwork / wall decor to put above the new gold dresser gorgeousness, as I like to call “her”.  The focal wall that got “dressed up” with new wide horizontal stripes is only about 5′ wide, but whatever was chosen to display needed to make an impact.  I didn’t want it to be personal pictures since we have so many around our house already, but I wanted it to be meaningful and reflect us.  I even reached out to you, my followers, on Facebook asking for suggestions on your favorite Etsy shops.  Even though I didn’t go that route, I now have a few go-to places for the future.

In the end, after much thought, my artwork was right under my nose in my backyard – literally.  After cutting a few wild flowers and ferns for a bouquet I was putting together for our outdoor dining table a few weeks ago, I thought using the ferns as art would be the perfect solution.

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Our backyard is filled with ferns and wild flowers, so I cut + collected a few different kinds choosing those that appeared to have all their leaves in tact.  No matter if you live in a house, like me, or in an apartment, bringing the outdoors in allows your home to feel more organic and to be ONE WITH NATURE.  A little corny sounding, but true.

No wild flowers in your back yard?  Check out the wooded / more dense areas of a nearby park.  With Fall in full peak, it’s a great time of year for a walk or hike.

Once I had the ferns collected – about 10 good ones – I individually laid each out on a white piece of paper (wax paper is an alternative option).

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Once all were laid out, I took the stack of ferns + paper and pressed them between 3-4 hardcover, heavy books.  Be sure the entire fern is covered on the paper and be sure that it all gets pressed between the book.  If it doesn’t, the part of the fern / flower sticking out will wilt.

About 3 days later, I took the dried out ferns and started creating the “art”.  I snagged these simple picture frames from AC Moore for about $2 and thought the minimal frame was perfect to let the ferns “speak”.

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

At first, I simply used the white paper to mount the ferns, but after a few days, the paper started to wilt because the ferns were still exuding moisture.  I decided to use a heavier paper and cut out pieces of poster board that fit to size. This did the trick!

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

And then they were ready to hang…

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Along with the ferns, I also pressed a few wild flowers.  I love the yellow coloring.  They add a bit of color to the art collection.

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

And this is the overall new Foyer space…

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

It’s so wonderful how the outdoors can be brought in, to enjoy throughout the entire year.  The simplicity and ease of using ferns as art is a pretty + no-cost way to create a beautiful focal point.

Bring the Outdoors in by using ferns and creating art by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

As an Apartments.com Brand Influencer, I strive to share ideas + do it yourself projects not only for those who live in homes, but also easy & affordable ideas + creations for apartment dwellers.  Next time you’re looking for something unique + meaningful + free for your walls, turn to the outdoors.

For more great ideas on creating a meaningful home, especially for those who rent, turn to the Renter Resources section on Apartments.com.  It is filled with interesting + useful information to make your dwelling reflect you.

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Foyer Reveal

You guys have been troopers holding out this long for the final reveal of the foyer.  I was waiting on a few pieces that I had ordered, and over the weekend they finally arrived.  I hurriedly styled and took pictures of the space, and this is the result…

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

It is so fresh + updated.  I’m thrilled with the result and it wasn’t a lot of work.

A new greige paint color + wide horizontal stripes + a gold dresser + a few added accents = A revamped foyer that makes a statement

Past Posts you may be interested in
gorgeous gold dresser + new foyer paint colors —> Click here
10 top greige colors —> Click here
tips + tricks for painting stripes —> Click here

Let me take a step back and show the evolution of the space over that past few years.  When we moved in a little less than 4 years ago, the space was dark and the complete opposite of inviting.  The mouldings were wood, the floor was a dark teal ceramic, and the space looked dated.  Actually this picture (from 2011) shows it better than when we moved in with the walls painted and the chevron sisal rug.

'Before' Foyer Revamp

Within that year, I stenciled the wall, tackled the staircase (no more carpet), changed the wood mouldings to white, and installed a new luxury vinyl tile floor. The result (from 2012)…

'Before' Foyer Revamp

A lot of tone-on-tone cream hues.  Not really my style. Hence the 2013 revamp!

Let’s take a tour of the new space…

This is the main “feature” wall of the foyer.  It’s a fairly small space, with a lot going on.  The foyer, office, and dining room/kitchen are all off of the foyer space, as well as the entry to the garage, the coat closet / pantry, and the laundry.  A lot.  As much as the space needs to be pretty, it also had to be super functional and not cluttered.  It’s a high traffic area with our family coming and going throughout the day.

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

On the main wall is where I decided to add wide horizontal stripes in contrasting colors – a light greige with a dark charcoal (all the details can be found in this post).  The wide stripes visually create a taller space and fools the eye to think the space is long.  The stripes pull you in.

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Even though the foyer is not a huge space, it does allow room for a piece of furniture.  I found this gold “gorgeousness” dresser that is super amazing.  It had me at first sight!  As much as it’s beautiful, it also is wonderfully functional.  The 4 drawers allow plenty of storage for the kids shoes and other misc items that never seem to have a home.

Next to the dresser, I added a beautiful upholstered ottoman – perfect for sitting and putting on shoes – as well as my favorite garden stool.  A few added pillows (from other rooms in the house) + some fun accessories for the dresser, complete the space!

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

The rug is a recent purchase from One Kings Lane and was handmade in India.  I love the pattern, as well as the two blue hues.  Since I have multiple blue paint colors throughout my home, it really ties it all together.

Here’s a view coming down the stair…

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

For the walls above the dresser, I decided to bring the outdoors in by framing nature.  The new “art” above my dresser are dried ferns and wild flowers —> for tutorial Click Here.  They were super easy to create and are so meaningful to our home since they came right from the backyard.

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Look who hopped in the photo session…  My little kitten Samson.  He’s never an arms length away.

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Welcome, as you come through the front door, this is the view.  The light greige color was continued around the room, but the darker charcoal stripe was only added to the main wall.

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

To continue the deep charcoal color in the space, I also used it on the back of the front door.  Now the space completely flows since the color is used in multiple places.  And just to point out, the stair railing is also a taupe / gray color, so it’s all cohesive.

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

It’s a great space to come home to now.  It’s absolutely an inviting, welcoming spot to enter.  Something that it wasn’t before…

Foyer Remodel with newly striped walls, fern art, and layers of colors + texture.  Spaced designed by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Thanks for taking a tour of my recently finished foyer revamp!  This space has had quite the transformation over the years.  I hope you enjoyed!  If you want to see more spaces in my home, click on over to my House Tour.

Pallets. Pallets. Pallets.

Pallet projects + creations have been on the ‘Hot List’ for quite a while.  Crafters and DIYers love creating upcycled projects using pallets because of the unique and aged look of the wood, plus you can get them at a very low cost or even for free.

Just this morning I received an email from a follower who created this fun, interesting, and informational infograph (i heart infographs – do you?) on the Ultimate Guide to Upcycling with Pallets.  Since I am always asked by readers where do I find pallets or how do I dismantle them to create something new, I thought I would pass this along…

Ultimate Guide to Upcycling with Pallets - Infograph featured on WWW.JENNABURGER.COMvia

Interesting, right?

I have made my fair share of pallet creations and love each of them.  Take a look…

[dopwgg id=”11″]

At the same time that pallets are loved by so many and creations from beds to headboards to sofas have been made, there has also been controversy on the safety of pallets being used in the home.  I recently read this article and it kind of got me thinking about the wood and where it came from and what it’s been exposed to.  If you are someone who loves using pallets, it’s definitely an important read!

Funky Junk Donna wrote an entire post on everything you need to know about pallets – what to look for, how to dismantle them, and the signs of a bad pallet.

Something to think about and consider when making your next Pallet creation…

Please share…  What pallet creations have you made?

 

Fall Mantel with Feathers

My Fall mantel is complete and yes, it has feathers.

I’m into feathers this Fall.

Peacock feathers adorn my latest wreath creation for the season, and now tall feathers (not sure specifically what kind) grace my latest seasonal mantel.

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

For my Lowe’s October Challenge, one of the projects that the Creative Team could tackle was giving the fireplace mantel a makeover.  I was surely excited and awaiting the opportunity to give my mantel a revamp.  I sent the seashells apackin’ and dug out the pumpkins, ghords, and festive favorites.

For my latest mantel, I wanted something new & fresh, but started like I usually do by shopping my home before even stepping foot into a store.  It’s always such a great way to create a fresh, new look without spending a lot of $$$.  Most of the elements for my Fall mantel I already had on hand, but a few elements are new like the ghords (obviously since they’re seasonal) + the feathers, which I picked up at AC Moore for $2/each.  They add such a unique, spicy element to the space.

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

In my travels over the past months, I also picked up this super interesting black sphere, which adds an interesting three-dimensional quality to the new mantel.  To add in some height, I covered 3 books with plain white paper, and topped it with a pretty candle in a geometric holder + a glass filled with gold rocks.

Yes, fabulous gold rocks.

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

The rocks were a quick and fun DIY project that I tackled with the kids before school started a few weeks ago.  We had gone for a hike at a local lake and they collected a bunch of rocks.  My nifty brain got me thinking…  let’s jazz em’ up with a little spray paint!  It’s ah-mazing what a little flashy gold can do…

bling bling!

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Another new element in the space is the mirror.  It’s not new to me, but something that I purchased 2 years ago, but has been sitting in the garage ever since.  It was wood, but I wanted it white, so once again, spray paint to the rescue!

Prime.  Paint.  And something new + magical is born.

MIrror before and after - $5 fix with white spray paint by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

And the result…

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

For now, it leans on the wall instead of being hung.  I change things so much (probably too much) that it wasn’t worth another hole in the wall.

The overall space is definitely happy + festive + perfectly set for Fall.

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Some more details…

My upcycled light turned vase (now a candle holder) made this years Fall mantel.  Still one of my favorite upcycle projects to date…

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

To add to the whole composition, I added in a few more festive elements that sit at the foot of the fireplace.  I brought in my thrift-store old chest (which holds the kids wooden trains) and topped with a large pumpkin and a few wonky ghords.  And instead of my tall vibrant yellow lantern sitting on the mantel this time, I brought it to the floor.

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

O, and there’s me, photographing the most difficult space in the world. Seriously I take 100s of shots and am never satisfied.  Well I tried and I hope you enjoyed.

Hi!

Fall mantel with feathers by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

And lastly, in striving to always keep it real, this is how the space around me looked at the time of photographing…

All looks perfect in the shot, but there was a bunch of craziness around it.

Moved furniture.

Laundry.

Birthday supplies.

Just keepin’ it real…

I hope you enjoyed my Fall Mantel with feathers. What adorns your mantel for Fall?

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Fall spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on the iphone and ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

Lowes Creative Idea Network Creator & Influencer

Also consider following Lowe’s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

 Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine! Fall Blogger Badge 1