Entryway Transformed!

It was a productive Saturday...one I've put off for a long time now.  9 Years to be exact!  When we moved into our first house, the back (or side) door entry was not very impressive.  And that's the way it stayed.  The paint was cheap ~ the kind where you could see the former color underneath ~ and the coat hooks were just plain ugly!  It has always been in the back of my mind to re-do this part of the house, but it was not a top priority.  Which is really unfortunate because it's one of the first things company sees as they come into our home!  

So I decided that now was the time.  I had waited long enough!  I had cleared away a lot of the clutter a couple weeks ago ~  Removed the hooks above the coat hooks where a collection of ratty baseball caps had found their home, cleaned out the shoe basket that was full of all things NOT shoes, and found new homes for the thermal lunch boxes and plastic shopping bags full of this & that that were stored on the coats hooks just waiting to be put away....This felt so good to finish and helped motivate me to finish.  Because as I mentioned before, I HATE to paint!

Now that it's done, I can't imagine why I didn't do it sooner!

Here are some before and after shots:

BEFORE ~ looking out from the kitchen ~ very blah!

AFTER!

The paint color is called Banana Cream by Behr.  LOVE Behr paint!

The hooks started out black but I spray painted them off-white to match the arch.

BEFORE ~ looking up the stairs

AFTER!

(I still have to replace the trim from when the doors were replaced)

Inside the doorway into the kitchen:

At the bottom of the stairway, going into the family room in the basement:

I cool-melt glued this butter pat to the circle in the iron arch just for fun!  

It can always be removed later if I want.

The swag is one I made for my Etsy shop but didn't sell, and the dish is one of my all-time favorites.  

Love the square shape!

I found this step ladder at a garage sale last spring.  I was going to paint it white, but decided I liked the aged look of the natural wood and the signs of use better.

Today I've found myself by the counter in the kitchen, just looking into my new entryway!  

It's so bright!  

I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon,

but for now ~

It's wonderful!

Lots of Lovely Lace!

I've been waiting for this day to come around for awhile now (I guess it's only been 2 weeks but when you're waiting it seems like forever!) so I could share something with you that I made for Easter.

Last month I went thrifting with my daughter and found this:

Do you remember these?

When I was growing up, all the lucky girls had these beautiful bedspreads, flowing with the most delicate lace.

When we spotted this beauty, we knew it had to come home with us!  

But we have no twin beds in our house,

and probably won't.

So, what do you do with a bunch of gorgeous, romantic lace ruffles????

Well, you could make this!

An Easter skirt!

There is a lot left over, so I think I will make some pillows with what's left.

I'll be sure to let you know how those turn out!

 I am participating in Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch!  Take some time and see what beautiful before and after transformations have taken place by some talented and inspiring ladies!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Have a great day!

Warmly,

     Lori