How to Make Your Own Coffee Bar

How to Make Your Own Coffee Bar
Coffee. We all need it. But those bulky brewers take up so much counter space! Not to mention all the accessories: cups, coffee, sugar, creamer, munchables... and don't get me started on tea, coffee's weaker-yet-just-as-necessary cousin. So, how do you get that junk off your counter and still have a cute, delicious place to store it all? A coffee bar, of course! They are all the rage these days, and why not? If you're not into coffee, try a tea station, snack station or cocoa bar! It's all good!
Here's a peek at my coffee station and some ideas for building one of your own.

My coffee station was born out of necessity. Our kitchen is teensy weensy and counter space is like prime seaside real estate. It doesn't come cheap. There was no way our coffee pot was going to fit on the counter with things like a microwave and dish drainer fighting for space. The solution was to make a coffee bar.

Start With Furniture That Fits Your Space
First, you'll need a space for your coffee bar. Some place with an outlet and a nearby water source. Mine is in an odd little nook just off our kitchen, probably meant as a small dining area. I already had the table (a Craigslist find). And I even had the bonus drop-leaf table from a thrift store. Your needs may be different. Either way, any piece of used furniture will probably do the trick. Think antique dressers, vanities, desks. Start with a substantial piece of furniture and build your bar around it!

Next? Accessorize!
What kinds of things would make your coffee bar work better? I use a wooden crate as a kind of shelf. Inside is a space for coffee storage, including a penny candy jar. Above is a three-tiered tray for holding k-kups,  jars for tea with cute little chalk labels, and Hubby's favorite sweet sesame snacks. But you could just as easily add a plate rack or cup rack depending on your needs. Beneath the coffee maker is a tray to catch spills.

Beneath, an old crate and apple basket complete the look.

I also have a wood cubby shelf for holding coffee cups and other decorative knick-knacks. I got mine at Hobby Lobby. You can also find a similar one on Amazon here. A baby snowy owl, small ampersand and owl mug cozy peek out from their cubbies. A lantern and boxwood wreath add a decorative touch.  You could also add a chalkboard or sign. Get creative.

What are your favorite accessories for a coffee, tea or cocoa bar?

How To Decorate A Bookshelf For Spring

How to Decorate a Spring Bookshelf
I have a love-hate relationship with our built-in bookshelves. When we first moved into our lake house less than a year ago, I was so excited for the built-ins. All that storage! Of course, it meant downsizing our furniture and getting rid of some beloved pieces. The trick is, these built-ins aren't very versatile. I can't exactly fill them with all my "junk" because it makes them look very messy.

And the space between shelves is kind of small. I can hear what you're thinking. "They're adjustable, dummy. Just move the shelves!" Well, when we moved in, we were in a bit of a hurry. Hubby had just transferred from Wisconsin back to Iowa, and we needed a house lickety-split. So, I set my kiddos to painting double-quick. And, if you adjust any of these shelves, you will find an unpainted stripe behind them. I know. I need to fix that, but I'm kind of swamped with other projects at the moment. So... the shelves stay where they are. For now.

The good news is my tiny, static shelves mean I get to bring you decorating known-how for your own bookcase.

Here are some tips for decorating your bookshelf for spring:

Color
I chose a color scheme that goes well with my farmhouse style and with spring: white, black, gray and tan with a smidge of greenery thrown in. I played with the idea of using my robins eggs (which are aqua colored), but they just didn't match. Too many colors make a space look cluttered. A nice, neutral scheme gives it a clean look.

Theme & Style
Don't go overboard with a theme, but incorporate it using your style. My style is farmhouse and my theme is spring. So, I incorporated elements of spring like birds, greenery and flowers into my existing farmhouse elements which include wire baskets, galvanized metal, wood signs and old books.

Choosing Decor
When decorating this shelf, I collected my favorite things and made a pile on my dining table, choosing what would fit best in my space and with my colors/theme. Some items didn't make the cut. It's important to tell yourself, "I'll just use this somewhere else." Also, a bookshelf is for displaying items, not storage. If you have a gazillion tatty old paperback books (like I do), store them out of sight. Despite its name, a bookshelf does not often store actual, readable books. The books on my shelf are vintage collectibles, chosen for their aesthetic. If you do need to store books or other items, try hiding them in crates or baskets.

Spacing
This is the trickiest part of decorating a bookshelf. How to make it look full, but not cluttered. Clean, but not skimpy. Balanced, but not too matchy-matchy. I played around with my collection of items, trying things here and there. I used the triangle or zig-zag method. The wire baskets form a triangle or zig-zag pattern. So do the wood items with words: "garden" "herb garden" & "bloom". I also scattered birds, greenery and flowers throughout. When decorating your shelf, try grouping like items on your table, then place them in the zig-zag/triangle pattern on your shelf to draw the eye back and forth up the shelf and give balance. Don't place two large items close together. I also like to put larger items on the bottom to anchor the shelf, and smaller ones on top to draw the eye upward.

Create Groupings
Use smaller items in conjunction with larger ones. I filled a galvanized tray with vine balls, a small moss topiary and a bird in her nest. I also used books as a base for holding other items.

Final Tips

• Don't forget those spring touches of greenery, flowers and birds & nests! Other spring themed items might be vintage garden tools, Easter bunnies, eggs, flowering branches, etc.
• Shop your house for items in your color scheme: crates, baskets, bowls, pitchers--anything can be cute when paired with other items.
• If your books don't match, think about painting the covers or covering them with craft paper. Turn the spine toward the back of the case, letting the faded pages show.

Remember above all to showcase your own style and have fun!

How To Transfer Images To Wood

How To Transfer Images To Wood Crates
Once upon a time there was a girl who loved cool old junk. One day her village decided to get rid of all the junk by having a clean-up day. The curbs overflowed with antique furniture and galvanized buckets. The girl was so happy. Especially when she scored not one, but TWO old, weathered wooden crates.

For years, the crates sat on her shelves. And the girl thought about doing some kind of project with them. Should she paint them? But she couldn't bring herself to change their weathered loveliness. Until one day, when she saw an old coffee crate on Pinterest and it gave her an idea!
Okay, seriously, it felt like a fairytale moment when I found these cute little crates. I really couldn't decide what to do with them... until now! And you can do it, too. Let's take a look at how I transferred graphics to my old, wooden crates.

Gather Supplies
First, I gathered some supplies: a spoon, a paintbrush, a glass and a reverse print-out of my graphic which I got from The Graphics Fairy here. I altered it in Photoshop to fit my crates and added a year at the bottom. And of course, the main ingredient: Citra Solv. This is a delicious cleaner that smells like oranges and heaven. It is made with essential oils and is great for getting goo and grease off pretty much anything. It also works as an image transfer agent. Handy!

Transfer the Image
Next, I placed the image ink-side down on my crate, centering it, and securing it with tape. Then I lightly dipped the brush in the Citra Solv and brushed it across the paper. Finally, I rubbed the image with the back of the spoon to transfer it to the wood. Easy peasy!

Of course, the image isn't perfectly crisp, but it matches the faded look of each crate. Now, who is going to try this?

Farmhouse Cabinets To Inspire You

Ideas for Farmhouse Cabinets From 10+ Bloggers!
For Valentine's Day, some girls get flowers or chocolates or jewelry. Me? I get a big old farmhouse cabinet! Yup. My  hubby knows me very well. Flowers fade, but farmhouse is forever! :)

My Valentine cabinet is an antique beauty. I can tell it has a lot of history because of the style of glass and the type of nails and hardware. Plus, it's in pretty rough shape. So, the question is, what to do with it? Should I try to restore it? Or paint it? or leave it as-is with all its rustic charm?

I decided to round up ideas from some of my favorite bloggers to inspire me. I hope they inspire you, too!

Amber Oliver

Pretty Handy Girl

Southern Revivals

A Brick Home

Our Crafty Mom

Roots & Wings Furniture LLC

Tracey's Fancy

Green With Decor

Pinterest Addict

Petal & Ply

H2O Bungalow

Style A Springtime Tray: Spring Decor

Style a Springtime Tray: Spring Decor
It's almost time. The drip-drip-drip of melting snow falling from the roof will give way to the sound of insects chirping in the night. Birds will sing, bunnies will hop and tulips and hyacinths will poke through the ground, bringing color to the world again.

Celebrate the return of spring with a little home décor. What makes good springtime decorations? Think green! Moss, potted plants. You can even steal pieces of some faux greenery and add them to little terracotta pots (like I did).

Bunnies & Birdies
Also, bunnies and birds and other springtime animals like baby chicks or foxes. Pick them up at thrift stores: like this vintage bunny bank. Or you can purchase bird nests and ceramic birds on Amazon.

Bring Nature Indoors
Add other natural elements: wood cuttings or twigs, pretty stones and faux flowers. Mix in farmhouse style décor such as galvanized letters, small lanterns, bird cages, vintage alarm clocks, etc.

Styling Tips:

• Create vignettes or groupings
• Pair items of varying textures, sizes, and colors
• Stick to a spring color scheme (like green, brown, white)
• Anchor the bottom with larger items, smaller on top

How do you celebrate spring?
Want MORE ideas for spring? Make these flower pots with French graphic images.

How to Create A Farmhouse Gallery Wall of Your Very Own

Farmhouse Gallery Wall
Have you ever looked at Pinterest and seen those tidy walls of collected items that just look so perfect they're almost too good to be true? Well, they're totally doable! You  just need the right spot. For years, I've wanted a gallery wall. But we lived in an old house that was all windows and doors. There was literally not one wall that was just a plain, flat space. Then, about a year ago, we moved into our lake house.... and it was the same problem. Only it wasn't just windows and doors--but built-in bookshelves--taking up precious wall space. Not that I'm complaining about awesome built-ins, but sometimes a girl just wants a blank canvas.

 

I managed to find one wall in the living room between the bookshelves and a door. It was big and blank and just perfect for a gallery wall! So, I got to work!

When deciding what pieces to include, I knew I wanted to keep it simple and clean. With a little trial and error, I think I managed it! And you can, too!

Here are some things to keep in mind when creating a gallery wall:

1. Space. You need to understand the dimensions of the space you're working with. Try laying out your chosen pieces on the floor next to the wall. It will help you understand how the pieces fit together. Try to keep the top and bottom even to create a "rectangle" shape (see picture). I only included pieces that fit well, using the largest piece (the chalkboard) to define the edge of my rectangle shape.

2. Color. Modern farmhouse calls for a neutral color scheme. If that's the look you're going for, then I recommend pieces that are black, white, and gray with perhaps one other color. I chose brown for mine. It made sense because I had wood pieces in my gallery. Too many colors can make a space look cluttered and messy.

3. Materials. Choose materials in keeping with your theme. Most of the items in this gallery are wood and metal, which add to the farmhouse style. The lantern is BOTH metal and wood and ties in nicely with the other pieces.

4. Function. While a gallery wall's primary function is aesthetic, it can also serve other purposes. Does your room need a clock? A gallery wall is a good place for one! Also, consider a chalkboard. Gallery walls can get stale if they aren't somewhat changeable. I enjoy decorating my chalkboard with seasonal messages. It also gives me a place to display collected, handmade and sentimental pieces. The "Love Grows" wood sign is made of wood from my dad's barn and has our family tree on the back.

You can see more photos of this "Love Grows" sign HERE.

 

5. Balance. Make sure you get a good mix of large and small pieces. Don't put all your heavy, square pieces on one side, spread them out. Likewise, don't put all items of one color on one side. I tried to create balance by putting my heaviest pieces (the chalkboard and Love Grows sign) on opposite sides. Also the "S" and "The Sanders Family" sign both have large letter S's, so I separated them, too. I filled in the gaps with smaller pieces.

Read about how to make your own Family Name Sign HERE.

I'm so excited to finally have a gallery wall! Do YOU have a gallery wall in your house? What pieces did you include?

Share in the comments and follow me on Facebook and Pinterest.