Monday, June 23, 2014

Windsor Chair {from Wrecked to Wonderful with Glidden Paint}

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Glidden® paint through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Glidden paint, all opinions are my own.

This tired, old Windsor Chair was pretty in need of a sprucing up, don't you think?
A fantasic example of an authentic Windsor Back Chair, the only thing holding it back from being fabulous was it’s awful, beat-up, beige paint job. Originally, I thought I would stain this chair, but I fell hard for a certain color of blue from Glidden® paint.  I loved the idea of a blue patina on this old chair and knew I could come close to the antique inspiration piece that I found in an old book that my Dad had kicking around.
Because you never want painted furniture to look gloppy, or thick, and because I didn’t want to have to sand all of the Windsor rungs on this baby, I decided to use Glidden paint DUO, which is a paint + primer in one.  DUO went on incredibly smooth.  I was able to let it sit overnight and then move on to the patina part of the finish the next day.



Thursday, June 19, 2014

Reflect Your Style: Dream Vanity {One Kings Lane}

You know I love a good find, and a good source for stylish products. I've been shopping for new and vintage furniture and decor at One Kings Lane for a few years now. 
So when they asked me to design my dream vanity around my favorite One Kings Lane mirror...
AND style it, how could I resist!!?? The only problem I had was narrowing down my own style choice..because they have so many gorgeous mirrors that I fell for several.

If you're a regular here at Commona My House, you know I love to mix new with vintage. So, to Reflect MY Style, I went feminine eclectic.
Frederick Oversized Mirror, Gold

Waterfall Vanity Table, White/Clear
French-Style  Side Chair



14" Wood and Horn Tray, Brown9" Peony in Vase, Faux



How would you
  REFLECT YOUR STYLE?
XXXOOO,

Wordless Wednesday Inspiration {Totally Teal} Glidden


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Japanese Barberry Menace & Lyme Disease

{I'm on my Soap Box today, because I want to rant about something that I think you should be aware of...because gardening isn't just about pretty flowers, it can be about your health, as in this case.}


A few weeks ago, while out looking for mulch and a few geraniums, I was completely shocked when I stumbled upon rows and rows of Japanese Barberry bushes. I was at Home Depot. 
Why was I shocked? After all, Japanese Barberry is a pretty common sight. Just drive down your landscaped city streets in Draper, UT and you'll see them. They're pretty popular in new housing developments, too.  And after a bit of research I found that it is readily available at Home Depot, Lowe's, and Walmart. Chances are you may have one in your own yard.
But most independent, local nurseries don't carry it. And most gardening experts feel that it is not only irresponsible to plant it, but consider it a hazard.
Why?
Because Japanese Barberry is a highly invasive, non-native species.
And that's not all...
While parents research poisonous plants and Google whether they should have a Poinsettia in their home at Christmas, very few people are aware of the proven, dangerous link between Japanese Barberry and Lyme Disease. 
Japanese Barberry plants are the perfect haven for ticks.  Ticks which are most likely infested with Lyme Disease, among other diseases. This information has been available for years. And yet major landscaping retailers, and even landscapers themselves continue to sell, promote and plant this threat.

Last fall I read this excellent article, "Stop with the Lyme Tick Nurseries", that explains why Japanese Barberry is creating hazards in our own backyards. After more research, I stumbled upon this informative article by Debbie Roberts, explaining the studies and frankly, the public health risk that is continuing with the planting of Japanese Barberry.

Still not convinced that you should dig up the Japanese Barberry in your yard, call your local town hall and tell them that they should dig up the Japanese Barberry in the town park, or call Home Depot and ask them to take it off their shelves?
Read this article from Scientific American.  I'm not an expert on this subject, but Scott Williams, Research Scientist Department of Forestry and Horticulture at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) is and he says, 
 "But we’ve documented factually that, indirectly, this invasive plant can have a negative effect on human health. When you start telling people that this plant can negatively affect them, their pets, their children, then they start paying attention."

Dig them up and discuss with your local nursery what native alternatives you can plant instead of Japanese Barberry.  
I think there are prettier alternatives, too. Just saying.
XXXOOO,

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Wordless Wednesday {Rich Navy, Glidden}


Paint Color Portfolio: Dark Blue Bathrooms | Apartment Therapy  glidden rich navy

Friday, June 6, 2014

Year of Change Challenge {June}




Each month Commona My House, Suburban Bitches  Life on Virginia Street, and Rosa Beltran Design bring you a new challenge in our Year of Change project to help ourselves, and our readers, tackle small projects that produce a big impact in their homes. You can read more about it hereIt's the first Friday of the month which means it's time to reveal our June challenge and guest designer! 



So what's on tap for this month? We're partnering up with Lamps Plus on this project and shining a little light in our lives in the way of shaded swags.  We'll be using single and/or multi swag convert kits to turn shades into pendants. I can't wait to see how everyone incorporates these into their homes. And to make this month even better one of my favorite bloggers will be playing along - Abby of Abby M Interiors.  
Abby M. Interiors
Welcome
If you aren't already following her blog you need to be. Now.  I was lucky enough to meet Abby at Alt this past January after having followed her blog and social media accounts. She's non-stop fabulous!
A HUGE 'thank you' to Abby for joining the Challenge Crew this month; I'll be sitting June out while I visit family on the East Coast (follow my adventures on IG)! Be sure to check back in with AbbySara, Rosa, Erin and Tricia on the last Friday of the month to see how we do the swag. 
XXXOOO,

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Prep School {Summer Cool}

My love for Prep runs deep; I grew up in New England where there is a certain understanding of all things PREPPY.

{To learn about true PREP STYLE, check out this post from a year ago, Prep School, where I wax poetic about what Prep is to me (includes Tretorns, Madras and of course, Seersucker love.}

As Summer kicks off, I'll be heading home and revisiting my Preppy roots!  
Timeless Prep means Summertime to me.
Here are my picks for Prep School Summer Cool:
Outer Bank on It Sandal in Tan by Salt Water Sandals - Brown, Solid, Casual, Summer, Flat, Beach/Resort, Variation, Leather, Nautical, Festival, Top Rated, Americana, Best Seller
Saltwater Sandals in Tan
Maverick Shiny Gold Whiskey Tortoise
Toms "Maverick Gold Whiskey Tortoise" Aviators 
Swifter Tied Ripper Triton Knot Bracelet by Kiel James Patrick
Kiel James Patrick "Swifter Tied Ripper Triton Knot" Bracelet 
Pink, White & Navy


For More of my Prep picks, follow "Prep School" on Pinterest
Follow Amy's board Prep School on Pinterest.


and see my other Preppy Posts:




Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Wordless Wednesday Inspiration: {"Surf" Serena & Lily}