SNEAK PEEK - MY HOME !!!!!

I have been doing several diys for some time now.  Many of these projects have found special spots in my home.  It is heart warming to look at these and realize that these are actually my handy work.

I get much joy decorating my home.  Your home should be a place of peace and comfort.  Surround yourself with furniture pieces and decorations that you love and not necessarily what is "the current style." Fads don't last long.  Go for furniture that have strong structure; these will last.

Here is a sneak peak of spaces around my home; beautifully decorated (if I may say so for myself) with my diys and bargains that I have acquired over the last nine months.

My Living Room

This was one of my first project.  This was a bit expensive because of the material used.  As I took on more projects, I learned to utilize cheaper material.  My goal is always to complete my project spending the least amount of funds.

I purchased this dresser for $30.00 from Craig's List. I removed the mirror, painted it and added new knobs.  I decided that this would be an excellent piece for my living room.  Paired with the starburst mirror, both together give an air of sophistication to the room.  I am loving it!

Star Burst Mirror paired with Dresser that was refinished and now in my living room

I saw this beautiful lamp at TJ Maxx several months ago and decided to treat myself.  If you are like me, a new bargain or new piece of decoration or furniture is a celebration.  I purchased a pair and they fit perfectly in my living room.



My painting was done by one of my daughters in elementary school.  I kept it all these years and decided that  I would frame it and add it to my decor. 

I am one of those mom who keep every painting, art, report card for my kids.  A little fold showing but that just add to the character of the piece.  What a beauty!

  

My Dining Room

This small chest was purchased from Craigslist for $25.00.  Painted it and now it is used to display our hot chocolate items.  I used the original pulls; they were spray painted silver and that brought them back to life.  Perfect spot for this little gem.




Hot Chocolate Bar

What is better than a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter night!  The space was set up to have all the  essential stuff for a cup of hot chocolate.  Tip a tablespoon of our famous Jamaican Rum Cream or your favorite cream.  Yummy!!

The Dinning Room

 The chandelier was a bargain found at Lowe's. I am very proud of myself for finding this deal. A perfect fit for my dinning room.



 The tablescape below is what I used for Christmas this year.  I love shades of blue so why not use this color scheme for the holidays.



My Hallway

This too is another small chest that I purchased for $25.00. It was painted and now finds a special spot in my hallway. I am really proud of this piece because I realized after purchasing that it really didn't worth the amount I paid. Sometimes this happens but you should always learn from your mistake. With some TLC (sanding, filling dents with wood putty and painting) it is now and a special piece. The mirror was a bargain found at Lowe's. You can tell that Lowe's is one of my favorite place.



Coffee filter wreath on the door to the garage.

This is one of the easiest diys that I have done and I think the look is exquisite. Much more beautiful than the picture.





My Daughter's Room

You can never do for one daughter what you are not willing to do for the other.  So after completing the shelves for the Princess, it was naturally my baby girl's turn.  I found this chest on Craigslist and purchased it for $20.00.  I gave it some TLC (cleaning, sanding and painting) and painted it a nice gray color.  The paint I purchased from Lowe's.  It was in the "oops" paint section.  You can get a gallon of high quality paint for as little as $5.00, if you can find a color that you like.

 

My Kitchen




These three Christmas Cacti are placed on my window sill in my kitchen. They are absolutely beautiful; they are getting prettier each day as all the flowers open up. 

While I am alwals willing to take credit for the beautiful flowers around our garden, I certainly don't do the hard work.  My husband loves bargains as much as I do, the only thing is he looks for bargain on plants.  He likes to rescue plants from the dead and nuture them back to health.  50% - 75% discounts are always good news for him.

These plants were actually nurtured by my husband. He buys plants from Lowe's when they are at the brink of death and on sale for 50% or more. He then nurse them back to help. I gladly pick the ones I want to display around the house.

The Front Porch



My Back Deck

What is a Florida backyard without a deck.  Here are a few snaps of my backyard.  The umbrella was purchased at the beginning of last winter. There are always great deals at the end of a season and I am always looking for a bargain.

The lamp in the picture is powered by solar. I purchased it a few years ago and it still going strong. It is amazing how much light this one lamp projects on the desk at nights. What is best of all, this was a bargain found at Home Depot.

This is our Scotch bonnet pepper plants in our backyard.  This is a favorite pepper for caribbean folks.  If you are afraid of real pepper; don't try this one.

 My orange tree in the backyard. This orange tree can actually withstand the cold of North Florida. There are so many oranges on the tree this year that we have to brace the limbs.

This is the end of the tour.  I hope my DIYS  will inspire you to try some of your own.  Trust me, try one and you will not be able to stop!  It is very addicting!