Tables, Tables, Tables

Here are a few tables that  I recently transformed.

1. Wicker Tray Table




 I transformed it by painting the scared up top and just the lower part of the legs with Annie Sloan Old Ochre Chalk Paint.




What a great house warming gift to the young couple that are taking such good care of my rental house!



2. Double Tier Side Table


Under the glass is faux paint to look like a wood design

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How to Easily Fix a Broken Furniture Leg

I come across furniture pieces once in a while, that have a broken leg and can easily be repaired.

This tutorial that I will show you is only for breaks like this...




You will need a wooden dowel, a drill, a drill bit the size of the dowel and wood glue. First, drill a hole in the center of the broken leg and in the center of the part of the furniture where the leg will fit.


This is what

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Your Home Reflects Your Personality

It's said that you don't have to tell about yourself your home will tell who you are. Your home is a true reflection of your personality. Make your home your haven. Follow these tips and personalize your home:

Replace things that are generic with the things that bring you joy and you love them. Like I love this sunburst mirror I made and I really love looking at it.

Image: Mine

Don't spend lot of money on things that just catch your attention instead choose things that you love and suits to your style and reflects your personality. I bought this terracotta Buddha statue from an exhibition in dirt cheap rate and then gave it a new look that reflects my personality and suits to my style.

Image: Mine

One more way to reflect your personality through your home is color. Choose paint and fabrics in color that define your taste. For me warm and earthy tones define my taste.

Image: Mine

Always choose right fabric and pattern for furnishing that your are more drawn toward.
Display souvenir collected from different places traveled around the world. It reflects the fact that you are well traveled and well informed person.

Image: Mine

Mix and match accessories. This will ensure that you are not burning hole in your pocket while doing up your home in your own style. Put things together in a way that they blend well.
Be little creative and try to do things yourself it can be a painting, any craft or art piece or re paint your  furniture to add touch of your personality to your home. I heart decorative trays so gave it a try and created one for me. If you want to make one for you go here.

Image: Mine

Display your heirlooms with pride. Place them in a right place to catch attention of visitors instantly.
Bringing in fresh flowers and green can make space look lively and speaks of your personality too.

Image: Mine

Take out all those things that are lying unused but you love them. Display your stuff in a creative manner. Brass or copper vessels can be displayed creatively on kitchen window sill or above the cabinets. Vintage frames can be displayed on a living room wall in a form of cluster to grab attention.

It takes little creativity and your imagination to fill colors on your blank canvas and to make your home your haven. If you want to share images of your home then drop me a mail at designdecoranddisha@gmail.com,  would love to publish them here on my blog.



Much Love!!

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Our Summer Porch and Fun in the Sun!

Greetings, friends!

I'm excited to be part of the "Fun in the Sun" Summer kickoff party featuring a fabulous group of talented ladies (clearly, I don't belong in their company) who are going to be sharing summer crafts, decor and *much* more over the next two weeks ... there's even going to be an amazing giveaway on the 27th! 

And, since this is a "summer" party, I thought it only fitting to share our screened in porch, dressed for the new season!  So, come on in ...

Please join us here while we enjoy summer cocktails and conversation or quietly watch summer storms roll by.  And, hope you don't mind if we turn our "Old White" chalk painted fireplace on ... gotta have a bit of ambiance at night!  

A few years ago, we added this oversized metal barn star center stage above the fireplace ... eventually, I'd like to replace it with a large mirror, but, for now, I've flanked it with inexpensive topiaries from Tuesday Morning ... 

along with this little French clock from HomeGoods (which, apparently, also met my paint brush filled with Old White chalk paint ... oops):

When it comes to our outdoor space, I love adding lots of vibrant colors!  As soon as I spotted these cute accent pillows at Bed, Bath and Beyond (30% off), I knew they'd be a fun addition:  

And, I'm more than happy to take my decorating books off of this little ottoman from HomeGoods so that you can kick up your feet!  

Over on our coffee table, I'm sure you won't be surprised to see that I added a  bowl of collected seashells, as those are my favorite to add to almost every room:

Even this pretty terrarium from Tuesday Morning couldn't hide from a *tiny* hint of coastal:

And, please feel free to toss the pillows off of the love seat so that there's actually room for you to sit comfortably!  We do it ALLLL the time ...

Or, if you'd rather, come on down here and sit a spell ... 

We love being out here so much that we're getting ready to take down our existing screen *wall* and join this space with our "exposed" patio, making it all one big screened in area ... hope you'll come back and visit when it's all done!

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit our summer porch!  I hope you got to take a peek at Kristin's (My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia) awesome pom pom lantern,

along with Shannon's (from Fox Hollow Cottage) whimsical summer wreath yesterday!

And, be sure to visit Heather (from Setting for Four) tomorrow who will be sharing her beautiful summer mantel!

Oh, and don't forget the giveaway on the 27th ... 

OR to visit all the stops along the way!

Stop 1:  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

Stop 2: Sand and Sisal 

Stop 3: Fox Hollow Cottage 

Stop 4: Adventures in Decorating

Stop 5: Setting for Four 

Stop 6: Debbiedoo's 

Stop 7: French Country Cottage 

Stop 8: Cupcakes and Crinoline 

Stop 9: Domestically Speaking 

Stop 10: At the Picket Fence 

Stop 11: Yellow Bliss Road

Stop 12: JoJo and Eloise 

Stop 13: DIY Show Off

Have a great day,

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First Thing I Purchased on Joss and Main!

I found a shabby bookcase while looking at the Joss and Main website.

At first I didn't purchase it because I had never purchased anything on this site and whatever is purchased is non-returnable.

I had to put some thought in it and these offers don't last long.

I missed out on this the first time around.

I couldn't get it out of my head and I couldn't find anything else that I liked as

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Grow A Beautiful Garden

Before sharing tips on how to grow a beautiful garden one should know 'Why to grow a garden'.

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"_Marcus

"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness, it teaches industry and thrift, above all it teaches TRUST"_Gertrude Jeky

"Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years" _ Anon

Now you know the benefits of growing a garden. Here are some tips I am sharing to grow a healthy and beautiful garden.

Image Source: Click Here

1. Soil: 

First and most important step involve in growing a garden is to maintain good soil. Soil should be fertile and healthy. You can improve quality of your soil by adding compost/manure every year if you are growing flower and vegetable garden. No need to add compost if you are growing herbs. 

Check soil pH if it is too acidic then add some lime to control the pH. Healthy soil pH is considered between 5 to 8. That is neither very acidic nor very alkaline. Though it varies from plant to plant.

Add mulch (protective layer of material like bark, wood, plastic on the soil) to the top layer of soil, it will maintain soil temperature, maintains soil moisture, control weeds, organic mulch increases soil fertility and it reduces soil splash while watering or during rains.

Image Source: Click Here

2. Environment:

Environmental factors also play an important role in gardening. Main factors are water and air temperature.
Watering directly depends on weather. If it rains then you can skip watering plants, though in summers you have to make sure to water your plants regularly. Nutrients available in soil get dissolved in water and are taken up by porous roots of the plants.
When temperature is very low then plants go into dormant state and metabolism slows down. While in very hot temperature plants stop functioning properly. So its always a best idea to take good care of your plants during extreme temperature conditions. Bring your plants inside home when there is too cold and keep them in partial shady  area in very hot weather.

Image Source: Click Here

3.Choose right plants:
Select your plants according to the space available and how much sunlight your space gets where you are planning to grow a garden.
If you have very limited space then going vertical is the best option. Choose plants those are dense and leafy.
If your garden space receives less or no sunlight then choosing shade loving plants like hydrangea, hostas, begonia, fern, bamboo, camellia, coral bells and fox gloves are some good options.
If your garden area receives ample amount of sunlight then choose day lily, black-eyed susan, coleus, chlorophytum, juniperus, daisy, salvia, hibiscus, petunia, verbena these are sun loving plants and thrive in sun.

4. Pots:
You can add a lot of drama to your garden by choosing some fancy and eye catching beautiful planters for your garden. You can simply paint your existing pots and can see the difference. Make a beautiful arrangement by placing pots of different color and size in cluster. Try using some unconventional pots like tree stump, plastic bottles, mugs, tyre, boots, pitcher or even an old bath tub too.

Image Source: Click Here

5. Garden Accessories:
Accessorizing your garden is as important as any other space in your home. Lots of  garden accessories are available in market these days. Choose right one for your garden according to space available. Bird house and bird bath not only enhances the beauty of garden but gives shelter to thirsty and tired birds also. Gnomes, fairy, by-cycle, wagon, terracotta or sand stone figures and fountain are few to name.

Image Source: Click Here

Hope you have found way to brighten up your garden and are ready for a makeover.

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Tea Time

Lately I have been in a lamp making mode. 



Here is another (if you are not to tired of lighting). 



I got this cute little silver teapot at a garage sale for only 25¢! I drilled a hole in the top of the lid after taking off the round wood knob. I then drilled a hole in the back side for the wiring to come out. I used one like this...






To simply wire it. Add a bulb and shade and it's

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