Another DIY for my to-do list!

I've been thinking about Michael Penney's Windsor chair DIY since I saw it on the House & Home blog earlier this week.

My current dining room set is a hand-me-down and leaves a little to be desired. Such as a fourth chair. And a leaf, which somehow went missing between Toronto moves 3 and 4.

A friend offered us a set of Windsor chairs that were languishing in her family's basement, but I was a little reluctant to take on another piece of "placeholder" furniture - you know, the stuff you keep around until you can find, or afford, what you really want?

They're quite similar to the ones Penney featured in his post - simple, sturdy, and not all that exciting.

But, what a difference a coat of paint makes!

The one on the left is primed, while the one on the right has been polished off with a glossy coat of paint.

After seeing this transformation (check out the full instructions here), I'm certainly going to take my friend up on her generous offer!

Now I've just got to decide between a glossy coat of white or black paint!

The master bedroom makeover continues ...

These days, I'm in need of some serious rest and relaxation. Really, aren't we all?

Luckily, we've started making headway on our master bedroom makeover, which is being tackled by Lisa Canning on a seriously tight budget of $200.

And, while it's still very much a work in progress, I couldn't resist sharing a sneak peek, because on Friday, we had our own mini version of While You Were Out - while I was out at the office, Lisa was busy creating this: (see the before here) 

 
My night tables have been swapped out (for a pair of these bargain finds), the fabric panels have been hung - which just make the space seem so cozy - and these absolutely divine lamps have found a home!

The lamps were DIY-DFY project: Do-it-yourself done-for-you. Lisa found the ugly bases, with a great shape, at a thrift store, and treated them to a glossy black finish. Then, she topped them off with a pair of thrift store found shades, which were re-covered in this great graphic fabric!

Stay tuned for more as our design-on-a-dime makeover progresses, and catch up on our progress so far here:

- Stretching the budget

- Bye bye baby blue

- Planning the makeover

- Finding my (our) style

5 hostess gift ideas

Holiday visiting season is very much upon us. And, in light of all of that present shopping burnout, you may have forgotten to pick up a few treats for the kind folks who will be hosting you.

And, really, it's no wonder. Hostess gifts can be tricky, so a lot of people end up opting for the old standbys of a bottle of wine (though Tommy Smythe, from Sarah's House, says even that can be dressed up and personalized with some help from a vintage mag - check out his tips here) or a scented candle. And, while those can be nice gifts, odds are your host will have a room full of them going into the new year.

So, here's my list of five hostess gifts that hopefully won't end up tucked away in the closet!

(Photo of chocolate shortbread cookies by Keith Beaty for the Toronto Star.)

1. Home baked goods. Whip up a batch of cookies, squares, biscotti or other goodies to hand out over the holidays. Dress them up in a pretty bowl wrapped in a dishtowel, and don't forget the recipe! Need some recipe ideas? Check out our Cookie a day calendar.

2. Hand soap and moisturizer duo. It looks pretty sitting next to the sink, and will certainly come in handy during all of that holiday food prep. I love the olive oil soap and hand cream duo, with bamboo holder, shown, from Fruits & Passions, $35.

3. Paul Smith for Evian water bottle. It's pretty, collectible and luxe - and cheap, too, with a suggested retail of $4.99 for a 750mL glass bottle. Available at gourmet retailers, it will dress up any holiday table, and is a great gift for the design savvy, or non-drinkers, on your list.

4. Ornaments. A sparkling bauble can be a lovely addition to your host's tree or mantel display. But - be warned - a whimsical ornament may not fit in with your friend's stylish silver and blue palette, so if you're not familiar with their decor style, it's best to skip this one. I love gifting these ornaments from Amos Pewter, $17, which are made near my hometown. 

5. Pretty serving ware. If you're going to run out of serving platters (or break them), it's likely to happen during the holidays. Look for a beautiful wood piece with a handcrafted look, like this Acacia platter, shown, from Crate&Barrel, $15, or on-trend hammered-metal trays.

And check out our Festive Guide for more holiday entertaining and gift ideas.

Make a DIY ornament wreath!

I've been on the hunt for the perfect wreath for my front door, along with a beauty to hang on the wall in my living room or dining room.

And, if I were craftier or had more time (perhaps I could coerce a friend to help me?), I'd so try this project featured over on CB2 (which, rumour has it, may be coming to Toronto soon!)

They say the project is pretty simple (find full directions here) - simply string ornaments, in your desired colour palette and design, on strong stiff wire that can be bent into a ring (a wire hanger could also do the trick), then tape or twist the ends together and hang it!

Their wreath was about 28" in diameter, using about 55" of wire and 81 ornaments.

I'd love to see a monochrome version hung on a window or mirror! 

Get more holiday inspiration in our festive guide.

Creating a guest room

It is, officially, a month until Christmas. Which means, in my house, that holiday planning is in full swing. It also means that it's crunch time for getting my house ready for holiday guests!

As I shared a month ago, our to-do list is really quite lengthy - including painting three bedrooms, a bathroom plus potentially the kitchen and hallway, glamming up my fireplace, creating a guest room and finishing our unpacking! Oh, and decorating for the season!

Of course, I realize (mostly) this won't all happen before my first holiday guests arrive in the second week of December. But, of all of them, the guest bedroom really must!

I always forget to shoot "befores", so here's a just barely started shot of the room - the awful builder's beige, the oddly brownish ceiling paint, and the total lack of furniture.

So, this past weekend, I donned my painting garb and got started with my all time favourite shade - a dark purple, complemented by "drowsy lavender", a sort of silvery purple. Two days, and two coats of the dark hue later, we've got this:

 

The touch ups are now done, and tonight I'll be pulling up the drop cloths and re-installing the faceplates on the outlets and light switches.

Then, of course, I've got to fill it with stuff! I have a table that I'll be using as a desk, though no chair yet, and have a sofa bed coming on Saturday, so at least my guests will have somewhere to sleep.

Add in a few shelves, a bedside table and lamp, and it will be a passable, albeit sparse, guest room with a week to spare before my guests arrive!

I'll keep you posted as the transformation continues! And, I'd love to know, what are your guest room musts?

Check out more guest room tips.

Wreaths and bows and urns, oh my

Yesterday evening, my colleague Brandie and I decided to brave the drizzle and head on over to the Distillery District for a little festive inspiration.

 
The Vintage Gardener was hosting a two-day "Evergreen Festival," with flower carts decked out with make-it-yourself and pre-made holiday centrepieces, urns and wreaths -- including a ribbon and bow bar! (shown below) -- as well as decorating presentations from great gardeners.

It smelled absolutely divine - and definitely helped get the creative juices flowing! Brandie picked up this gorgeous blueberried juniper wreath, adding a blue ribbon from the bow bar. 

And here we "learned" how to tie the perfect bow - or at least we watched it happen. I can't promise that either of us could pull this off on our own! The method involves four yards of ribbon and tying a big bow, then a smaller bow on top of that bow, then an even smaller one on top of that!

And, if you're going budget-friendly this year (as many of us are), and want to make your own arrangements for the holidays and beyond, the Vintage Gardener's Elaine Martin offered up a few tips to help get started.

Martin says you should think about an arrangement like an outfit, starting with the skirt or pants -- which would be your planter or urn.

Once you've got that foundation picked, she says to pull the colours up into the arrangement, then add accents and embellishments, the same way you'll add a great top and jewelry to an outfit, for example through greenery that's complementary to your base, then adding on gorgeous berries or a pretty flower. Don't you just love the pomegranates below?

 

The next arrangement is also gorgeous, with a great surprise - Amaryllis ready to bloom once you get it home!

Martin also encourages carrying a thread throughout your holiday arrangements, for example using similar colours or repeating a type of foliage or material to keep them all tied together.

I'd love to add these pink pepper berries to a centrepiece, or even just use them solo in a bowl or vase. So pretty!

All this eye candy definitely has me wishing Mr. Speedy wasn't allergic to everything green and growing. I might still try to sneak in a pot of paperwhites or a miniature evergreen for a wee festive touch.

And, if you're looking for some help getting your own green holiday goodies ready, the Vintage Gardener will be hosting a series of Festive Workshops in the holiday lead-up, including an Evergreen Wreath workshop and "Mantel Mania" - get the full list on their website.

A seasonal centrepiece

As I shared last week, my super simple mini pumpkin centrepiece, right, was starting to feel a bit outdated as November trudged along.

So I asked for suggestions and brainstormed about what I could do for my table that was seasonally appropriate but not quite Christmas-ready. And super easy and cheap.

I was going to do a simple cranberry one, as in pour out a bag of the pretty berries and nestle in a candle. But as I wandered through the grocery store (without ever coming across those lovely red berries), a pack of mixed nuts in the shell caught my eye.

I loved the variations in texture and colour, while still being neutral, as well as the $2.99 price tag, so I figured I'd give it a go.

After all, if it didn't end up working, Mr. Speedy and I could still snack on them!

Here's the finished product:

 
What do you think? Mr. Speedy's not crazy about it, so it probably won't last all that long (plus, as is always the case with edible arrangements, it'll soon look a little sparse!)

Read more about centrepieces for cooler weather and getting your home ready for winter.

Centrepieces for cooler weather

Earlier this week I shared my winter maintenance plans for my home, but today I'm turning my attention to the more fun part of the changing seasons: swapping out my decor!

Because I'm perpetually cold, I do keep a few blankets within easy reach all year long, but I'm thinking that's it's time to spread them out a little bit more liberally throughout the house. There's nothing more blissful than curling up with a cup of hot chocolate, a blanket and a shelter magazine once the weather turns chilly!

And, while I'm seriously tempted to pull out all the Christmas ornaments, I'm going to try a slower transition into the holiday, persuaded in part by our poll results that show people switch to winter decor right up into December!

So, this weekend, I'm swapping out my fall centrepiece of mini fairytale pumpkins (they're white!) and candles with something a little bit more wintry, but I still haven't decided quite what that will be.

So, as I often do when I'm stumped, I turned to Twitter! Here are a few ideas as suggested by my Tweeps:

- My first inclination was nuts still in the shell; which are both pretty and a fun snack. If you go this route, make sure to stock up - there's nothing sadder than a handful of nuts rattling around forgotten in a dish.

- I also thought cranberries, which are still a little bit of a fall tradition, but a lovely shade of festive red. 

- Twitter friend @Sarah_kiriliuk seconded my cranberry inclination, suggesting I pair it with dark green, stiff foliage and crimson roses. So pretty!

- Meanwhile @Larked and @MargotAustin (Style at Home senior design editor) both suggested pine cones. Larked went the glittery route, suggesting sparkle encrusted versions in gold, green, silver and red while @MargotAustin said to go with whatever suited my style!

- Other suggestions (thanks @melaniedaigle and @GeorgeLatto!) included combining mixed nuts and cranberries (like trail mix!) or trying rice or coarse salt for other pretty, and wintry, fillers. 

Trolling the blogs, I've also seen some pretty vases filled with cinnamon sticks (bet it smells great too!), miniature ornaments - which I've got my eye on for a little closer to the big day - and seasonal favourite evergreen boughs.

I'll be shopping this weekend and will be sure to share when my table is picture-ready! What are your choices for a seasonal centrepiece?

(Shutterstock image)

Getting our home ready for winter

There's been a hint of winter in the air lately, and, as a result, Mr. Speedy and I have been turning our thoughts to getting our home all comfy and cozy before the snow starts falling. (Check out our fall home prep for some to-do list inspiration).

We've scheduled our furnace maintenance appointment to hopefully fend off any mid-winter breakdowns, and our plants have received a military haircut.

The BBQ and lawn furniture are ready to be stowed away in the garage, and we've had someone come by to give our roof a little TLC before it got too icy. 

Bleeding our radiators turned out to be a bigger job than expected because there was so much air in our system. But, it was also one of the tasks with the biggest pay-off, because they're heating so much more effectively now. No more waking up in the morning to a cool radiator in the bedroom and frozen toes!

We've also picked up some insulating window film to help stretch our heating dollars - but still need to install it. I'm betting it will make a much bigger difference once it's no longer sitting in the box!

Sadly, that's not al our to-do list. We somehow have made it this far into November without owning -- or needing, thank goodness -- snow shovels and salt (did you know you can now buy it scented?), an obvious essential for any homeowner or renter with a walkway. 

Our eaves troughs could also use some attention - a job that's been put off because we have yet to buy a ladder (and, also, perhaps, because it's rather unpleasant.)

And, finally, we also need to pull down our screens to store for the winter, a task the CMHC says promotes better air circulation to warm the glass and may help to prevent condensation on windows.

Those are the relatively simple, and mostly DIY, tasks we've got on our radar this winter.

The Home Depot also recommends:

- Weather stripping windows, which they say can offer up to 20 per cent saving on heating and cooling bills (with the simple peel and stick install, even newbie DIYers like us can handle it!).

- Wrapping your home in insulation with a higher R value, to prevent drafts, which is also estimated to reduce bills by 20 per cent - but does require a bit of time and effort.

- Upgrade your lightbulbs to CFLs, if you haven't already, and make sure any new light fixture purchases are Energy Star rated.

- Install/use a programmable thermostat. We've got ours scheduled to turn down during the day when no one is home and overnight while we're sleeping. Home Depot says the average household can save about $180 a year by setting a programmable thermostat!

- Installing water heater blankets and pipe insulation minimizes the amount of heat lost through the walls of the water heater, meaning it will turn on less often and save you money - for about a nine per cent savings on our water heating costs. 

And, if you're looking for a bigger savings, and bigger project, you could always install Energy Star windows and doors to help keep the heat in and the cold out this winter. 

What's on your winter to do list?

Last minute Halloween decor

Doorbells will be ringing tomorrow night as little ghosts and goblins make their way around the neighbourhood looking for treats. I know I've got a busy night ahead if I'm going to have my home properly spook-ified for the season. But, I firmly believe that last minute isn't too late!

I love the idea, from Rust-Oleum, of using Glow in the Dark paint on your pumpkins and lining your walkway with their spooky glow! Wouldn't that be pretty and eerie at the same time?

Or try Chalk Board paint so that you can change up your pumpkin's face, or messages, as the night wears on (get their instructions here).

You could also, of course, whip out a can of spray paint and give your pumpkins an instant update - whether it's a glam coat of ghostly white, a gothic hit of black or an ooze-inspired green.

Painted pumpkins would probably be OK to pop in the compost, so long as it's non-toxic paint, but it hasn't been tested so your best bet for disposal is still the trash.

For more pumpkin ideas, check out our pumpkin carving patterns and Mess-free pumpkin ideas.

And, for some suggestions on how to work with what you own for a creepy vibe, check out our tips in "Go spooky - yet stylish", "Haunting looks without breaking the bank" and "Devilish decor".

I'm falling back on my collection of mini white pumpkins and the idea that everything looks spookier (and prettier!) by candlelight!

And, just in case your Halloween turns out to be more tricks than treats, here are Lowe's clean up tips for the morning after:

- If you've been TP'd, grab a tree branch trimmer to lift or loosen the toilet paper. Try adding a piece of duct tape to the end of the trimmer to remove any pesky pieces.

- If you've been egged, it's important to clean up the mess quickly to prevent stains. Try spraying it down with a high pressure water hose, then scrub away any lingering bits with a solution of laundry detergent and warm water. (Lowe's says this would also clean up paint balls).

- Those pretty pumpkins smashed to bits? Pumpkin pulp can stain driveways and sidewalks, so try covering the area with cat litter to absorb the residue, then scrub the spot with laundry detergent and hot water.

Happy haunting!