These shelves are a fairly new product there and you can buy them in a multitude of sizes and really personalize them to what you want.

I wanted them to be a clean white so I simply spray painted them before assembly.  And by assembly, I mean, beat me over the head, have a meltdown, want to throw them out the window, 2 day ordeal.  I say this because I actually take pride in my Ikea assembling abilities.  I know all the little tricks and can read there poor directions like a boss now… but these were a mean surprise because it looked like they would be so so simple! They were not.  I managed to get it done but didn’t end up following any of the directions so I’m afraid I can’t help talk you through it… but I will pray for you! I think it turned out pretty well though and does the job for now.

This is in a corner of our dining room that I will share more of soon!

I’m not bitter at all that the movers removed 2 of the 4 wheels on my antique tea cart and are still no where to be found… not bitter at all.

Dalmation Trinket Dish found here but currently unavailable.

I love that I can enjoy my new collection and that it’s not hidden away anymore! The house is slowly coming along and this is motivating me to finish up the dining room fast

Pin below for sources later!

xoxo

B

The post Ikea Wall Shelves Hack appeared first on Windgate Lane.

I will admit that two of my projects did not work at all… and by that I mean… I did not even try to work on them.  I had planned on painting the side tables, but honestly I am still undecided on exactly what color to paint them!  And the curtains still need something but I was afraid to fight the pattern on the bedskirt to much so they were pushed off the list as well.

What I did accomplish I am pretty dang pleased with though! I already showed you my DIY Floor Mirror and DIY fabric chair, but what I got to add to that little area is my favorite.   This antique needlepoint was the easiest buy I have ever made!

I came across this beauty at an antique fair and the colors and size of it just struck me.  Without knowing where I would even put it, I brought it on home.  It is so intricate and even stamped 1949 from France on the back, which makes me feel a little guilty that I bought a cheapo frame from Ikea and just popped it in there!  I’m sure it deserves a grander frame but for now, Ikea won out.

The bedding is my absolute fave.  A full affiliate source list can be found at the bottom of the post.  This quilt is so simple and yet so bright and playful to me and the euro shams weren’t going to be going anywhere, those buffalo check beauties are staying forever.  But it needed a punch somewhere and when I saw this fabric at Spoonflower, I knew just where I wanted it!

I love what it adds to the simple bedding! I will share the tutorial for how I made it next week… and yes, I did it myself and no, I do not sew!  The matching pillow just needed to happen for my matchy matchy heart and I just loved the fabric that much.

I still intend to do something to the side tables and would love to hear suggestions, but overall this room has become much more me.  Ahem… I mean us.  It’s cheerier for sure!

If you haven’t seen the Dining Room make-over, make sure you pop over to it here and I will be back with tutorials next week from both rooms.  But now… we sleep.

Affiliate Sources:

| Similar White Patterned Quilt (unfortunately mine just sold out) | Navy Blanket |

| Buffalo Check Euro Shams | Floral Fabric | DIY Floor Mirror | Lepard Print Tote |

| Similar Accent chair | Similar Headboard | DIY Lamps | Rug |

xoxo,

B

The post |One Room Challenge| Master Bedroom Reveal appeared first on Windgate Lane.

But it is also a room that has at times overwhelmed me with the memory of my Mom.  She was only able to visit twice after we moved here and once was flying down with me and the baby to move in.  She wasn’t able to help with the unloading, so while my dad, husband, and I worked to bring things in, she set up camp in the dining room and played with 4 month old Jack.  Just sitting on the floor in the empty room loving on my baby boy.  I hid myself in the bathroom and cried for a bit knowing that they would leave soon.  My best friends, my parents, and here I was leaving the nest in a big way with a baby of my own.  These are the moments you look back on and can see so clearly but have no idea that they will be so impactful.  The look on her face, the joy that the baby and she had just sitting there laughing at each other with their identical bright blue eyes.  This room had to be blue.  It had to be all the joy and the beautiful that was in that moment.

I did the paneling a couple of years ago and painted the navy above but it just never felt how it should.   The paint by numbers art has been a love of mine for awhile and all of the colors and landscapes just bring me joy to look at.   This room had to have joy! The biggest aspect that I kept missing was warmth.  How did I forget to add heart and warmth into it?! The curtains and lamps brought the heart right in.

I love to entertain and the silver collection has come from everywhere.  One piece was my Mom’s, friends have given them to me, thrift stores, even Target!  I am forever fighting the battle of no storage in this house so I decided that this was not something I should hide.  Let’s just have it out and ready to go!  I will also never stop mixing metals… you can’t make me.

I kept the table setting simple.  The chargers and plates were wedding presents, the glass bowls are from Ikea and then the little white berry bowls are a set of milk glass bowls I lucked into at an antique store.  I did not expect such a challenge when I wanted to find Peonies for my centerpiece but I apparently wanted the only flower not readily available! I’m no quitter though!

The bar cart also stayed simple.  Those of you with keen eyes will notice that the caning got another coat of navy spray paint.  I loved the blue I first did but once the room was coming together I decided it needed to be more subtle.   The metal bells hanging above I found at the Elephant’s Flea Market in New York last year and I have just been waiting for the perfect spot for them.  Happy memories ended up making this room perfect for me.  All the planning in the world but it turns out for my own spaces it just comes down to me and being able to look around and see love and memories.

Who knew a room make-over could help me learn so much about myself? I guess my therapy has always been creating and this was no different.  I created a space I love and did it for the person I love so dearly.  I know she is looking down and smiling.

Affiliate and Source List

| Chandelier | Rug | Red Marbled Lamps | Acrylic Chairs | Head Chairs | Source for Paint By Numbers Art here and here | Sources for Silver | Dishes here and here | Peach Curtains |

To start at the beginning of the One Room Challenge Journey jump here and to see the Master Bedroom Reveal Go Here!

Love you Mom.

B

The post |One Room Challenge| Dining Room Reveal and Sources appeared first on Windgate Lane.

I have always wanted a large, leaning floor mirror in our master bedroom but hadn’t loved the prices when I found ones I liked… big surprise.

So I went on the hunt when I started the One Room Challenge… online, back alley mirror stores… nothing.

DIY ideas started to swim around in my mind and on a trip to Ikea a lightbulb went off.  They sell mirrored closet doors… mirror… tall… cheap… dunzo! I picked up the Vikedal mirrored closet door for $50 and then set about making it my dream mirror.  Scrap trim to the rescue!

The steps are pretty simple…

1. Buy mirror (they do come in different sizes)
2. Buy some thin trim and cut to desired lengths.
3. Adhere wood strips with mirror adhesive.
4. Paint the trim and edges of the mirror to look cohesive.

Side note- I absolutely would have spray painted the wood trim pieces before I cut and glued them on but we have been in the middle of monsoon season here in TX so being outside to spray paint was not an option.

So for $50 and some change, I am happy! And loving it next to my painted accent chair (you can find the diy fabric tutorial here)

And just for fun because I love a good high vs low comparison, one of the mirrors I loved (link here) that inspired me next to my mirror and guess what… $400 difference!

This room is so close to being done! and good thing because we only have 2 weeks left in the challenge!

You can catch up below and don’t forget to jump over and see the progress in the Dining Room!

Week 1 Mood Board

Week 2 Accent Chair

Week 3 Fabric Choices

xoxo

B

Linking to:

Thoughts of Home

The post |One Room Challenge| DIY Floor Mirror appeared first on Windgate Lane.

That might actually be a short novel, and with it being summer, productivity is at an all time low with my two loves around all day.  But let’s start with a little tongue and cheek letter that I wrote to my husband the other day…

**Dear Husband,

I want you to know that early on in the day I was dressed and had make-up on (not gonna lie, the hair was mostly dry shampoo) but during the course of the day things took a turn.

Running one errand in 102 degree heat caused extensive damage to my make-up and I’m not sure, but I think dry shampoo does not do well when combined with sweat.

After I dried my arm pits out and had some lunch, the boys got me all packed up and ready to go to the pool! Which really consisted of me (still sweating) wriggling into my bathing suit which resulted in two pulled muscles, and then hog tying them both to apply lotion all while searching for the one minions flip flop that of course was found on the kitchen counter.

It was at the point that we arrived at the pool that I realized none of us had gone to the bathroom prior.

After 15 minutes of taking assorted swimsuits on and off that were all stuck to us like glue (102 degrees), we found some chairs, dumped our stuff and go in the luke warm pool.

My lifeguard duties ended about 2hrs later. I took 2 balls to the head (thank God my dry shampoo/ sweat mixture had created some sort of barrier) and then dragged two children (possibly my own) out of the pool along with about 8 bags of assorted pool toys and floats (also possibly my own).

The car ride home was pleasant. The hot air blowing on our faces… hungry, hot, and tired 6 and 8 year old boys in the back seat…

On arrival we all took showers and really relaxed! Getting wet suits off of water logged elephants comes to mind. Then trying to bath myself (don’t forget my pulled muscles) while fielding questions about dinner and shielding myself from being watched while trying to shower, I really used that time to get my head in the game!

You will be home soon dear husband and if you don’t find me downstairs with a hot meal on the table, I may be upstairs… in bed… with no make-up… and wet hair… and in the fetal position… **

Ahhhh yes… the fetal position.  I have some methods for getting a project done or even just getting the kitchen clean.   And I would be a huge liar if I didn’t tell you that putting on a movie is one of them!

My boys are rarely still.  Like never.  But if I know I need to have some uninterrupted time, (kinda) I will save a movie that might captivate them for awhile.  Not a ground breaking tip I realize! But let’s say I have to paint some furniture- I’m gonna need their little hands away from the action.

My other go to is having them help in some way!  I learned that tip from both my Mom and Dad.  They always included us in their projects and I loved it!

It is dependent though on if I am painting my own furniture or a client’s (they may not care for the globby look) but if they can do one side that I know will be against a wall- then have at it!

Especially if it’s a project for them- for instance the drawer fronts on these nightstands (details here) were pretty straightforward for my oldest son’s room and both boys helped to stain them and then wipe the stain off (yes they were wearing gloves).

And then this dresser (details here)… well the back of it might have a lot of uneven paint on it… but hey- it got done!

When you have a family, priorities change.  We have all been there- red faced and frustrated that every single thing we hoped to accomplished in a day was not even touched because of a million reasons, none of which we can really recall, but all of which helped to sustain the lives of our children!

Those days happen… but I still make a real effort to squeeze in some ME things- no matter what that means (fetal position).

Hang in there Momma’s- it’s a heck of a thing we do everyday and if we can accomplish a few things of our own, I think it just shows our kids that we value ourselves and work hard too!

Thanks again Meagan! And Don’t forget to check out the rest of the fun posts in this series!

Day 1 Mamas:

Jillian @ I Am a Homemaker

Bee @ Windgate Lane

Alice @ Thoughts from Alice

Charlotte @ Ciburbanity

Amy @ Her Tool Belt

Day 2 Mamas:

Danielle @ 2 Little Superheroes

Amanda @ Dwelling in Happiness

Rachel @ Shades of Blue Interiors

Jen @ Migonis Home

And just for fun we are also throwing in a giveaway! Enter to win a $15 giveaway to Lowes and Target for a little fun summer shopping
#DIYmama Giveaway

xoxo

B

The post Motherhood: Playing to Win appeared first on Windgate Lane.

If you have matchbox cars around your house, then you are probably aware that keeping those little buggers put away is like chasing your tail.  One gets put up… another rolls away to that one spot on the rug that it blends into so that you can step on it and get severely injured.

When ours are actually put away, they are in this storage box from Ikea…

It’s worked well- but there are usually strays up in the boy’s rooms that are their favorites… because we have A LOT.

So I wanted something fun for them to be able to keep in their rooms and move around the house with if need be.  Ya know, if there is a matchbox car emergency downstairs.

I also wanted a way to display them… because they may not be played with as much as they used to be… don’t make me cry!

Enter our friend, Ikea, again! I was there on unrelated business but of course had to peruse through all the things I didn’t need and justify needing them ALL.  So after I picked out a new blanket (if you follow me on Instagram you got to see a sneak peak of it @windgatelane), new kitchen towels, and a cute candle holder, I meandered through the garden section.

I came across these acrylic green houses (Vindruva) for $10 and was immediately pondering what I could use them for since I had already put them in my basket (hee).

I’m assuming you know where this is going…. and tada! Matchbox car storage!

The boys love them because you can see through to find what you are looking for easily- and Momma likes because they are kind of cool to look at it.  I also couldn’t stop myself from putting some washi tape on there for a fun little accent.

And they have so many possibilities besides the match box cars… I know, hard to believe since that’s not what they are for in the first place… slaps forehead.

It is a set of three- one big, that I used for the cars- and then two small.  So I had a bit of fun with the small ones!  A quick and easy Easter centerpiece… The Hubs said… what do you need a gold cake plate for? Duh! I need it for everything… clearly (it was from Ballard Designs but is now unavailable, sorry).

I’m also thinking that I should get another set and they could make a stunning Christmas display filled with lights up on the mantle… it’s too early though… right? I kid.

Pin here so you can find sources later!

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!!

xoxo

B

The post Matchbox Car Storage appeared first on Windgate Lane.

Guest bedrooms have been on my mind lately, so I decided to make an inspiration board of my fave Pottery Barn choices… For a Grand Total of… wait for it… $3882.00…

| Bedding | Rug | Chest | Mirror | Trunk | Chair |

So… I’m super in love with it all… but for fear of my husband keeling over… I had better find some alternatives.  Enter Ikea… for a Grand Total of… $915… for all of you trying to do the math in your head… that’s $2967 Cheaper! (and no, I don’t do math in my head either)

| Bedding | Rug | Chest | Trunk | Navy Accent Pillows | Green Accent Pillow | Floral Pillow | Chair | Mirror |

Now in a perfect world, I would combine the two.   A little bit of Pottery Barn combined with a bit of Ikea- like the Pottery Barn bedding is to die for and happens to be on sale- so I might grab that- but then get the chest from Ikea because I absolutely LOVE it!

I love the hunt! Here is a side by side comparison and honestly, I really do love both of these inspiration boards!

Pin below for sources later!

The biggest key to finding similar items for less is to zero in on what you actually love about the room or items.  For me, it was the colors in the bedding and then the warmth and texture of the wood and rug.  So even though Ikea didn’t have bedding that exactly matched the Pottery Barn bedding, I pulled the colors that I loved in with cheap accent pillows on top of a neutral but interesting duvet, which is actually better for the future because I can switch out pillows easily to change things up!  And the chest and rug were both pieces that were fairly simple to replicate-  I just looked for those pretty edges and similarities in wood tones.

Thoughts? Do you like one better than the other? Do you hate both? No, don’t tell me.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

xoxo

B

The post Pottery Barn vs Ikea: High-Low Decorating Sources appeared first on Windgate Lane.

Speaking of Target, let us take a little trip on the evolution of furniture… or more specifically, a Target stool.

I bought this little foot stool on clearance about three years ago for $15!  I loved it so much and still do, but with the addition of a new rug in the family room, the reds were a bit too much together.

Through the holidays, you saw that I threw an Ikea faux fur on top of it, which I loved because it added texture and a brighter pop against the rug.  So when the fur had to go bye bye, I took a little trip to Hobby Lobby to get some inspiration and a fun trim (also called ric-rac) caught my eye and after a few laps around the fabric, I found what I was looking for!

Your style? Maybe it was the first one all the way- and frankly- I still really loved it that way, but it wasn’t going to work and I for sure didn’t want to get rid of it.

The process was so simple.  4 Steps!

1.  Place your fabric over the stool (if there is a pattern you may want to adjust where it falls)

2.  Staple one middle staple on each side, pulling your fabric taught as you do.  This will then allow you to work your way around stapling the rest

3.  Cut off excess fabric

4.  Hot glue your trim right over the staple line

It really is so simple! Especially when working with a small piece of furniture.  I am in love with how it completely changed the piece and now it stands our from the rug and brings a new fun pattern into the room- not to mention the texture of the trim… I am mildly obsessed with it.

And in her final spot! I’m in love with how it pulls my beloved Blues out from the rug and the curtains…

This room has finally really pulled together for me! It’s comfortable and colorful without being overwhelming.

I hope you are having a great week!

xoxo,

B

Linking to:

The Inspiration Gallery

The post Evolution of Furniture appeared first on Windgate Lane.

I wanted to show you all some of my favorite bloggers this season, so I have roped them into this tour so that you can jump from one to the next and see some great inspiration!

If you are joining me from Thrifty Decor Chick, Welcome!! She was one of my first and favorite blogs to follow and I am still a loyal fan- she never disappoints!

I am looking forward to hosting several parties this holiday season and wanted my guests to feel excited the second they walked in the door! Now I don’t live in a mansion my any means, but that doesn’t mean you can’t jazz it up, and while this may look like a lot, it was actually very simple to pull together with stuff I already had on hand.   So…. Welcome to our Home….

(Wreath Tutorial) 

 One tree just didn’t feel like enough to me! These two little ones were fun- but I decided I wanted it to look more like a winter wonderland so I put on my Paul Bunyan pants and went out front and cut a branch off of our out of control Crape Myrtle… so that seemed like I accomplished yard work as well.  After I pulled the leaves off of it, I attached it to the wall with a flag pole hanger.  I hung some glass icicles that I found at HomeGoods last year after Christmas…. and then I swooned and was in love!

The other accessories included: disco ball and red, metal basket from Hobby Lobby- a faux sheepskin from Ikea (also used on my ottomans here)– small tree and sled from HomeGoods.  The taller tree I have had for years, but I spruced it up with some snow spray from Hobby Lobby (this stuff is amaze) and then added some red berries to it.  I then hung several of the acrylic snowflakes from… wait for it…. The Dollar Store!! 2 for $1… you will see them in other spots in our house this season!

The rest of the entry I kept simple because I had so many textures going on already in this vignette- so the entry table stayed the same but I added a lantern that will serve as a holder for our Christmas cards as they arrive!

Another Ikea shoutout because the entry table is actually shoe storage from there that I put fancier cup pulls on to spruce it up:) and so is the small chair by the front door with another faux sheepskin tossed over the back of it… I can’t and won’t stop throwing them everywhere…

Y’all know I had to have navy/white buffalo check in here somewhere! that little pillow is one I got last summer from… you guessed it… HomeGoods and it actually says Lake Time on the other side- but only you and I need to know that!  The rug is from West Elm lest I forget to mention that and the little mirrors are Target.

So pin it, scream it, smoke signal about it but get the word out because these bloggers in this tour rock and have so much fun inspiration!

And now you can head on over to Megan at Honey We’re Home to continue the tour, or find all the links down below!  She is the sweetest lady and has a gorgeous home that is a show stopper without decorations up, so I can’t wait to see it now!

Here is the whole amazing list:

Windgate Lane
Honey We’re Home
Ciburbanity
Hearts and Sharts
Desert Domicile
At Home With The Barkers
Gourley Girl and Guy
Our Southern Home
Hi Sugarplum
Thrifty Decor Chick

xoxo,

B

Linking To:

Your Designs This Time

The post Welcome to the Season- Holiday Decor Tour appeared first on Windgate Lane.

They both come out of my desire to repurpose what is already in a room so that it can just be jazzed up in some simple way!

The first one is gonna blow your mind… not really… but you might be like… uh yea… I could do that so easily!  I have a couple of cute little foot stools that float around our family room- and truthfully the tan and red stripes are fine for Christmas, but with the addition of more red throughout the room, I wanted to break it up a bit.

Enter Ikea and their faux sheepskins for $9.  Yes, you are going to be seeing these around in my other holiday decor quite a bit this year!  I planned to just quickly staple and recover them but when I just threw it on there to see how it would look, I decided it looked cute just tossed on there… ummm… it can’t get easier than that! or cuter!!

Easy Decor #2 is all about those books, bout those books, bout those books… you know you are now singing that song.  You are welcome.  Go grab a bunch of books from around your house- got them? Now start stacking them on top of a bookshelf/ mantel/ hearth/ wherever- and then grab a cute star ornament or these awesomsauce star objects I got at Hob Lob (50% off of course) and TaDa!!!! you have cute book trees!

These look and were so simple and they are officially my favorite decoration this season.  I decided to flank them on each side of our TV console.  And you could always turn them around so that the colors of the book binds show- but I didn’t want them to take over too much.

Love!

I will be sharing with you my tutorial on how to make ornament wreaths on Friday and next Monday I can’t wait for you to see the line up of great bloggers for a tour with holiday entry ways and vignettes!

xoxo

B

Linking to:

Twirl and Take a Bow

Before and After Wednesday

The post Easy Holiday Decor appeared first on Windgate Lane.