whatmorganmakes, Author at Vintage in Bloom

March 15, 2021 by whatmorganmakes

DIY Faux Board and Batten Trim (and How Projects Just Seem to Multiply)

Tonight I’m gonna tell you all about an extremely budget friendly high impact DIY project we just can’t seem to quit: faux board and batten trim.

Almost a month ago we completed the upstairs hallway project. We added faux board and batten using only 1×3, lattice strips, and paint. The impact is HUGE but the cost was minimal.

I got this idea (and awesome step-by-step instructions) from Young House Love. You’ll definitely want to check out their post because I am not going to go into nearly as much detail as they did. It’s simply just not in me.

The only supplies you need are: 1×3, lattice strips, caulk, spackle, a putty knife, and some sandpaper. And a saw. And preferably a helper to do the cutting for you so you don’t have to run up and down two flights of stairs approximately 29386498273 times in one afternoon.

So RE: the title of this blog. Can we just talk for a minute about DIY projects and their insistence on multiplying? The fact that anytime something in your home looks fresh and new everything else starts to look really drab? Or sometimes you mistakenly make more projects for yourself?

Let me tell you what happened.

First, I painted the top half of the wall Naval by Sherwin Williams. Don’t get me wrong, it was beautiful. But it felt quite… nautical? Maybe a little too crisp and clean for my grandma-chic decor? I’m not sure what it was, but as soon as it was complete, I was back at Sherwin Williams buying all the color samples.

We landed on that first one on the left. It’s called Retreat by Sherwin Williams. If I’m being honest, I was sold on that color based on the color deck, but my husband told me it wasn’t green at all. I also didn’t want to make the same mistake I made with the navy so I humored him (and myself).

Back to Sherwin Williams I went. (PS – I am now on a first name basis with the staff at SW in Pleasant Hills. Did I mention they are lovely? They really really are.)

Okay so now I’m satisfied with the wall color.

But now we need a new light fixture (why were boob lights ever a thing?). And a rug runner in the hallway. Great! Check and check. And also, paint the access panel to the attic. Done. Light fixture source: World Market, rug runner: overstock.com

Light fixture: World Market, Rug Runner: Overstock.com

So all was well in the world for about one day, until I realized that our stairway and ceiling were looking pretty crappy next to the upstairs hallway.

So back I went to Sherwin Williams for more Retreat.

And then the hallway was done.

But now what about the downstairs entry and hallway?

I bet you can see where this is heading.

Which brings us to where we are today. Light fixture downstairs also replaced to match upstairs.

But it won’t end here. Nosiree.

Because now that bench and coat rack need to be repainted. And my door looks like it hasn’t been cleaned since 1988 next to that crisp paint. And the bifold closet upstairs is KILLING ME. Oh. And one other major problem.

Yep. I have one of those walls that extends into two rooms and I didn’t notice it until it was too late.

This wall in our dining room shares a wall with the entryway wall where the bench and coat rack are. So now I have to also paint this wall and add board/batten to it.

At this point, I’m wondering if I should do the entire dining room as well.

Rookie mistake.

Le sigh.

Stay tuned.

March 5, 2021 by whatmorganmakes

Boho Bathroom Makeover Mood Board

In this post you’ll find a few of my favorite finds that have me inspired to tackle a huge overhaul in our primary bathroom.

This morning we found out that the shower in our primary bathroom has a major leak making it unusable until it is fixed. Supposedly, Amazon will deliver the valve (?) tomorrow and my husband will fix it. But what I heard was “we might need some major plumbing work so you better get to work designing us a whole new bathroom.” Don’t have to ask me twice.

Okay, friends, don’t judge this my first ever mood board – the one I so originally call “Boho Inspired Bathroom Inspiration.” Typing that out a second time makes me question its repetitiveness, but let’s just roll with it because I’m just learning Canva and I’m not changing it now.

If you know me, you know I am a color fanatic, but also a fan of farmhouse/cottage styles, BUT ALSO GIMME ALL THE FLORALS.

This is the shower curtain that set the stage for my ~~scheming~~ advance planning. I love big floral patterns. This one from Anthropologie might be perfect.

Our bathroom doesn’t have a bathtub at this time and I don’t think we’d add one even when we do a full remodel since I’m not really a bath person, but I do love a clawfoot tub.

I know what you are thinking. That tile with that shower curtain might be a little toooooo much. You might be right. The way I typically make decor decisions is if I like it and I have the budget for it, I buy it and then figure out later how to make it work. It hasn’t bitten me in the butt YET so we will see if the tile or the curtain or both make the final cut when this renovation ~~never~~ happens.

ALL THE POTHOS PLANTS.

Our house was built in the late eighties and we have some weird “architectural features” that I’ve always hated. Picture a built in cubby shelf made of drywall. Lately I’ve been picturing pothos up there and I think it may be the solution to all of my problems.

Just kidding – plants can only solve some of my problems.

There is zero.zero chance this Pottery Barn vanity will be in my (non-existent) budget. But definitely something like this: dark hardware and fixtures with a rustic wood look.

I’m also picturing a dark moody color for the walls. Would you all laugh if I said green? At least I’m predictable.

Anyway, there ya have it. Tell me your thoughts, but always remember there is a human on the other end of this post (good life advice) so be kind.

xo,

Morgan

March 5, 2021 by whatmorganmakes

A Year in Review: 2020

2020 was quite the year for everyone. Most notably for me, the pandemic (and flood (again)) led to the closure of my brick+mortar shop: Vintage in Bloom.

Those first few months were really REALLY hard emotionally. I felt like I failed. Our shop was a place for our community to gather. A place to inspire. A place to be creative. And then it was gone.

When we decided it was better to close than to hemorrhage what little money we had left in the business; we knew it was what we both needed financially, mentally, and emotionally. We needed to be home. We needed one less thing to worry about.

And you guys continued to show up. You showed up in our inbox with incredibly kind and supportive messages. You showed up for the live sales as we liquidated what we had left. We’ve forged so many friendships (including the one we have with each other and the other incredible ladies who worked with us) in that little shop and for that I am so grateful.

I thought having the shop would allow me to do what I love – and it did. But in that, I found something else that I didn’t know I needed.

Community.

I’m excited for 2021. I know I’m not allowed to say that because of the complete s-storm that was 2020, but I am. I’m optimistic for a new year in a way I never have been before.

Vintage in Bloom will go on – virtually for now – but who knows about the future. I’m just glad you guys are still here.

October 12, 2020 by whatmorganmakes

DIY Ironstone Fall Centerpiece

This step by step blog will show you how to use an Ironstone chamber pot and artificial pumpkins and florals to make a beautiful Fall centerpiece.

This centerpiece is a super simple, inexpensive, and beautiful. I was super proud of myself for this one because it is another one of those “trust the process” kinds of projects, so I was very doubtful until it was complete.

Here’s what you’ll need:

A vessel for your centerpiece – I chose an antique ironstone chamber pot. You could use anything that is relatively shallow. I found one similar using a dough bowl on Pinterest.
A piece of floral foam for artificial flowers like this.
Any Fall florals/greenery – I used a Fall floral spray pick from Joann and just used a wire cutter to cut it apart. It had mostly greenery and eucalyptus. The key is to make sure they are vining a bit so they will lay nicely over the edges of your centerpiece.
Small faux pumpkins – I got mine from Joann.
Mini Acorns and Pumpkins – I got mine from Joann.

1. Cut your piece of floral foam into random sizes to make it fit into your vessel.

It doesn’t need to cover every single bit, but you want to get as close as you can, like this:

2. Add in greenery/florals so that they vine over the sides of the vessel.

I started going around the edges of the piece of Ironstone like you’ll see below and then added just a few more to the middle. You do NOT want to add in all of your greenery/florals at this stage.

3. Put your larger pumpkins into the vessel.

I liked the look of one or two turned a little on their sides so that they didn’t look so perfectly placed. Remember, this is all about finding perfection in imperfection.

As you can see, some also sit higher than others. That is because when I put my floral foam in I didn’t cut it evenly. Embrace it! 😉

4. Start using the rest of your greenery/florals to fill in and cover up the floral foam you can still see.

At this stage, I also added some in the middle of the centerpiece between all four pumpkins.

5. Add in acorns & mini pumpkins

If you’re like me, you like the idea of neutral Fall decor. But then reality sets in and what is fall really without some COLOR? You can totally skip step 5 or you can just add in acorns or white mini pumpkins but I felt like I needed some orange. When you add in the acorns and mini pumpkins, you should try to add it to spots where you might still see a little foam. That was the strategy I used and it worked perfectly for me.

Here is the finished product:

October 10, 2020 by whatmorganmakes

Our Fall Front Porch: Festive Ideas to take your Porch to the Next Level

This post will give you ideas for incorporating vintage, handmade, and nature into your ideal festive Fall front porch.

One of the best things about all this time at home lately means I have time to actually decorate for Fall.

Our front porch is finally ready for its close-up. Here is the finished product:

Here are a few tips and tricks I came up with to get your front porch Fall ready quickly and easily.

Incorporate Vintage Items into your Seasonal Decor

Use vintage items and crates to create depth and height on your front porch. This Cape Cod Cranberries crate is absolutely one of my favorite finds ever from Boxwood and Grace. I typically keep it on my hearth throughout the year, but this year it made its debut on the front porch. I mean, come on. Mayflower? Cranberries? Can you find a more festive crate?

There is no bottom in it but the hay bale I purchased at the Kinsey Warehouse Sale (along with the fantasy and heirloom pumpkins) fit in perfectly.

This incredible industrial antique stool also came from the Warehouse Sale and I am in love. It will stay on the porch through all seasons with different potted plants on top.

Add a few items you made.

There is something incredibly cozy and endearing about things you made with your own hands. They do not have to be perfect. They do not have to be without flaw.

I made these two signs and they are perfect for our front porch this year.

We tried twice to get it to hang on the siding without putting a screw through it. No such luck. So now there is a screw hole in our siding. The small price you pay for cuteness, #amirite?

This one is double sided.

That way, we could add a touch of Halloween without being too intrusive with the rustic Fall colors.

Buy ALL of the pumpkins and mums. All of them.

I’m not gonna lie. The pumpkins weren’t cheap. But I’ve dreamed of this porch for basically ever now.

Also a friend left her pumpkin to rot in her yard out of pure laziness last year and this year she harvested something like 12 pumpkins from that. And I can be pretty lazy, so basically what I’m saying is next year I’m going to have my own pumpkin patch. So it was an investment. At least that’s what I’m telling my husband.

What are your best tips for decorating your front porch for Fall?

October 10, 2020 by whatmorganmakes

DIY project: Update your Front Door with Paint

Painting your front door is an easy and affordable way to instantly upgrade your curb appeal.

We’ve lived in our home for 6 years now and I’ve painted our front door twice. I think this one is going to stay awhile.

Step 1: Choose a color and paint brand.

This is the hard part for so many. I can tell you that it was for me as well. My number one tip for choosing your door color is to make it one that will look good in any season. I didn’t want to go super neutral with my choice, so I chose Naval by Sherwin Williams. Sherwin Williams categorizes Naval as a neutral, but I like to think I went a little bold.

I wanted a satin finish so I did not use Chalk Paint for this project. I used Sherwin Williams All Surface Enamel paint in Satin. Pro tip: You only need a quart and luckily my online order warranted a call from Sherwin Williams so I didn’t waste money on the gallon I had originally ordered.

Step 2: Gather your supplies.

In addition to paint, you’ll need: a good paint brush (I used a two-inch Purdy Flat Brush) and/or small foam roller, a drop cloth, painter’s tape if you aren’t changing out your doorknob, and maybe like an hour and a half. (Most of that is drying time.)

Step 3: Clean your door, stir your paint well, and tape off any windows/fixtures.

Also, make sure you take a before photo!

My first paint job on this door was rather lack luster. I mixed up my own shade of Chalk Paint® (which I am ALL ABOUT for so many projects – including front doors if you do it right) but I failed on two levels: (1) I never sealed the paint, causing it to mark up with every touch and (2) I didn’t mix quite enough paint so you can see at the bottom it is a different color. Eek.

I will also mention (and my mom has told me MANY times) that I know this door needs replaced completely. It’s bubbled and old. But that is not nearly as affordable as a quart of paint. We are talking $20 (don’t forget your SW coupon!) vs $400-$1200.

Step 4: Apply your first coat of paint.

You can use the brush or roller for this. I used both. I used the brush for the nooks on the panels of the door and the roller for the flat parts.

This should be its own step, but alas, it is not: Don’t freak out if this is how your first coat looks.

Go ahead and just trust the process. 😉

Step 5: Apply your second coat of paint.

After you wait the recommended time for the paint to dry (or if you are like me and get paint all over the can and can no longer read how long it takes to dry – you can just go by touch), it’s time for your second coat of paint.

And if you are like me – you will be shocked at the coverage of your second coat compared to your first!

Step 6: Step back and admire your work.

I completed this project in the Fall so I was so happy to see how it looked with our Fall decor surrounding it. *insert heart eye emoji* (Why aren’t there emojis in Word Press?)

So as you can see, the door is still not hiding its age, but what a difference a little paint can make. I encourage you to get out (in?) there and update your front door from drab to FAB.

Time needed: 1 hour and 30 minutes.

DIY: How to update your front door with paint!

Step 1: Choose a color and paint brand.
I used Sherwin Williams All Surface Enamel Satin Paint in Naval.
Step 2: Gather your supplies.
A good paint brush (I used a two-inch Purdy Flat Brush) and/or small foam roller, a drop cloth, painter’s tape, and an hour and a half. (Most of that is drying time.)
Step 3: Clean your door, stir your paint well, and tape off any windows/fixtures.
And don’t forget your before photo!
Step 4: Apply your first coat of paint.
Make sure your stir it well first!
Step 5: Apply your second coat of paint.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Step back and admire your work.