Summer Soiree

Summer Yard Picnics

Creating the perfect soiree/party doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to keep things simple yet absolutely stunning.

1. Pick a color palette /theme - Color pallets and themes help you minimize decisions. In this case I chose “Cottage Garden” - There was definitely a feeling I was going for. Comfortable and warm. So I chose natural fabrics for the linens: a striped cotton table cloth I thrifted along with Herb Tea Towels I used as large napkins I found over @Joahnns . I pallet help myself when they went on sale. They are most likely on clearance now so if your obsessed - RUN!

2. Choose your dining wares — I use a Costco brand of plateware that I have really loved along with the perfect glass. (To read more about the glass click here.) The silverware were hand-me-downs however I do plan on finding the ultimate set and sharing it with you all when I do.

3. Add the details. — This usually encompasess candles, florals and some sort of detail either on the napkin or dinnerware. I chose to stick with my outdoor garden cottage vibe and used a basket with a bowl of ice to keep the wine cool all while keeping it out of site and adding texture to the table. I placed a branch that complemented the arrangement on each table and added a few used pillar candles for some interest. Using what you already have in your home instead of going out and purchasing new things is a sure way to keep things simple.

   
   And there you have it. Nothing crazy extensive. Just using what I already had at home to set up a fun girls night that will be full of warmth, beauty and conversation.

3 Steps to choosing the cabinet color right for you and your home.

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When we first moved into our new rental I was a bit disheartened by the kitchen cabinets. They were original. yes but 60 years or wear and tear left them drabby and in such need of a paint job. No amount of scrubbing was going to help clean them. I managed to convince the owner to let me paint as soon as she mentioned she was thinking about it. Woo!

So here is a look at the before and after along with all the details you need to know in order to understand why I chose the paint and finish I did.

THE BEFORE

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1. DECIDE ON THE FEELING - It may sound ridiculous but EVERY COLOR HAS ENERGY. Understanding how they translate to your mood and ambiance is important. My go to place Is, as you well know by now, is Pinterest. After creating a mood board, I decided that I wanted the kitchen to feel clean and warm. Knowing I wasn’t going to use multiple colors in the kitchen and understanding that the cabinets were large and would take up a lot of the prime real estate - I decided on a color that had both warm and cooler undertones - resulting in a color choice that would match almost any color pallet I would later decide to attach to it through accessories.

2. UNCHANGABLES - We were working with a rental, so changing floors and countertops was out of the question. Finding a paint color that matches your unchangeable is PARAMOUNT. This is why I found a cutting board that was similar to the colors of the floor and set it on the counter along with all of the color swatches from our local LOWES. Narrowing it down to a few colors became a lot easier and I had a fairly solid idea of what I was trying to achieve

3. BRING IN THE DETAILS - I had ordered hardware prior to painting. It may be the biggest piece of advice I have for you. Order your hardware and faucet, if your changing it, now. Before you choose the paint. That way you have all of the details in one place and can then move forward knowing you love how all of the details look together. NOTHING is worse than spending all this time sanding and painting your cabinets only to find out that they are slightly too cold or warn to work with your door handles. These are the ones I picked Champagne Knobs , Antique Bronze Drawer Pulls , Brushed Brass Kitchen Faucet.

Im sure your wondering what color I ended up choosing. My perfect fit turned out to be a grey/beige color names GRACIOUS GRAIGE. which is the lighter, warmer color on the far right. Visit LOWES for your samples or and snag a few colors. I usually go wide and narrow down my search at home so that I know Im covering all my bases. Sometimes the paint you choose will surprise you and that isn’t a bad thing. Bold or simple, painting a space makes a HUGE impact and Im glad that your on this journey with me.

I want to know what home projects you are working on this summer! Share with me all the things! with a design background I’d hope I can be of assistance to any questions you may have, so feel free to show send me all the things!

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Painted walls and reading nook spruce

Ryan, my amazingly patient husband has learned in the 8 years together and 5 moves we’ve had - that any space we live in will get fresh paint. We moved into our latest rental about 2 months ago and you better believe there was going to be projects involved. No,we do not own this place, yes, out landlord allowed it and yes, I do most projects on my own.

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Through all the moves and painting jobs I must say that I’v come to the conclusion that most of your interior problems can be solved with a bit of paint.

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For instance, The living room had two white walls and two very dark dark green walls. The color itself was DIVINE and if we lived in a space that had more light in the living room I would actually keep it. But alas, this living room only really has this reading nook to keep me alive with light.

So in order to fix the “darkness” I opted for a waaaaaay lighter and a bit warmer green to give a little happiness back into the space. I have since added a few things that actually block a lot of this green on the main portion of our living room wall, but that’s for another post.

To be completely honest I wasn’t super confident in the color when I first started. But sometimes you just gotta go for it and see where the paint takes you. lol

I ended up very happy with the finished product in color and moved onto the next order of business. THE CUSHIONS.

I headed over to one of my favorite stores. JOANNS. 10 years ago I would have laughed at that sentence but creating my own custom apholstry for the house has become a seasonal thing. I usually will create pillow cases to match the color pallet I decide on for the season but this time my focus was on the sitting cushions the original owner of this space had made for her. They were a checkered American Indian print not many homes would be able to blend with any part of their decor. Least of them being me. So naturally JOANNS is where I went.

I usually go straight to the clearance and last call section because the upholstery can cost and arm and a leg and I usually can find the most fabulous fabrics around that fit my project perfectly. I usually go every few weeks to see what they have on the floor any sometimes even buy for future seasons.

Here are the fabrics I chose for the nook. The simple grey will be the perfect base for the seating area and the thick green lined linen will make for the most amazing neutral and structured pillows.

And this is where I will leave you for now. The seating cushions have been made and look great! The pillows, I haven’t gotten to yet but are on the agenda for the very near future. I can’t wait to show you what It all looks like once this little corner is finished!

As always, I love to read your comments.:) What do you think? would you have chosen a darker color? Would you have opted for a beige or painting it all white? I know I have been choosing more colorful options lately but I compared to our all white beach cottage/apartment, I felt like this little home nestled in the oak trees deserved a bit more intentionality and customization.

Monday Spruce - Spring showers bring May flowers

Walks through the neighborhoods of Amador County always end with picked wild flowers in hand and a full heart. On Mondays my usual local coffee shop is closed so I have had to shift the usual morning routine of sitting on a leather couch, journaling, to a cool sunrise walk along the beautiful hills and my favorite Oak tree filled landscapes. I really couldn’t tell you which one I prefer.

Once home I put my apron on and get to work cleaning the home to set myself up for a productive week. Am I Perfect with this? No. But setting myself a weekly schedule up is prepping myself for success. And so far this has worked wonders.

MONDAY SPRUCES — have become a staple in our household and wild flower pickings always make it in to a vase of some sort and are displayed for the week until they wilt away. Yes they don’t last long but they bring me joy and I’ve figured out a how to make them last longer than most.

How to make your wild flowers arrangement

1. Pick 3to 4 varieties of flowers/greenery - think about texture and chose complimentary colors

2. Use filtered water - Most of us have heavily chlorinated or mineral filled water, changing it up to filtered gives them an extra reason to stay alive a bit longer for you to enjoy

3. De-stem/de-leaf your flowers- Leaves touching water will make the water go rancid in a matter of 24 hours. De-leafing your stems will help keep them fresh. Leaving 3/4 inches of a clean stem usually is the way to go.

4. Start with a green base - use it to create your general shape and move on to placing your flowers in one my one. Don’t know where to place them? Think “If I were a flower, where would I grow? Look for an appealing spot and just go for it.

There really is no right way to create a wild flower arrangement. Some florists would disagree. Maybe you do too, but ultimately, they have just gotten a lot more practice in understanding placement. No wild flower ever looks out of place on a hillside so the “Where would I grow?“ has been a simple but effective approach to creating something pleasing to the eyes.

A new arrangement with a pop of color and texture will bring new energy into any space. This week we placed it in the kitchen and Im loving it.

Id love to see what you do for your Monday Spruce this week! Tag me on instagram @jannatenney and use the hashtag #MONDAYSPRUCE

Found Treasures & Second Chances.

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Lets talk second hand

Iv been a squeamish person most of my adult life when it comes to second hand things. I wasn’t one to go thrifting or rummaging through garage sales for treasures. But as you can see I’m speaking in past tense.

Thrifting has become a newly found soul filling adventure for me. Here are 3 reasons why Iv grown to love it so much.

1. Cheaper - obviously

A lot of us are currently on a tight budget and spending enormous amounts of money on home decor is just simply out of question. As you know my family and I finally got our own place after almost 2 years in California. Our new rental owners have been amazing and have allowed me to paint and do a few things to update our space. However furnishing the space is proving to be a long process. I am using facebook market place, estate sales, antique shops and thrift shops to fill my home with found treasures.

2. One of a kind.

Iv always hated trends - most of the time I really just can’t get behind what is the status quo. Maybe its my personality but I also love a space full of unique things. I have this life-long friend who’s home is full of them, everywhere you look you are greeted by an interesting vignette- a collection of things that are as special together as they are apart. Which brings me to my next and final point.

3. The Story

Ooof this is my favorite part. Old things have stories and I am able to give it a second chance at bringing joy to those who behold it. Whenever something is made it is usually out of necessity or inspiration and that makes it live and breath on its own. I LOVE THAT.

Currently I have my eye on a very special piece of art work in an antique shop. I didn’t have my card on hand so I couldn’t purchase it then. But we meet again, it will be forever and we will have a story that is even more exciting. Meant to be. It will become a new treasure with a second chance at life. And instead of a dusty garage shelf covered by a towel it will be hanging in my living room, no doubt a part of a lovely vignette.

When was the last time you went thrifting? Does it give you a icky feeling or an excited one? I know thrift stores have the stigma of being dirty hand me downs but you really never know what treasure you may come across. This weeks challenge. Instead of going to a TJmax, Homegoods or Target - try an antique/thrift shop instead.

Much Love,

Janna Tenney