The life of a skeleton

I have a very creative friend, Carolyn Ann!!! She is not only incredibly creative she is an incredible cook too. She is always full of ideas and adds so much spice to the lives of everyone she knows.

She and her girls have had such fun this Halloween season with their skeleton friend in their front yard. Every week this October, they have redressed their skeleton named "Big Bertha" and posted a picture and caption on Facebook.

Big Bertha No.1

"Big Bertha is ready for the game, got her nachos and popcorn ready"

Big Bertha No. 2

"Is it really October?  Feels like May!  Where's Autumn?" 

The "call me" part had me laughing so hard!!

Big Bertha No. 3

"Come on, Rangers! Resurrect the game that got you to the World Series! We didn't literally mean that we had "died and gone to Heaven" over this...Big Bertha may have, but we're still here!"

Big Bertha No. 4

and today.....she posted this...

"Big Bertha, the Church Lady, sings today! Hallelujah! Amen Brothers and Sisters!"

I love it Carolyn Ann!  You have such a fun sense of humor and I'm sure your girls have enjoyed this creative energy!  I'm sure you have been the talk of the whole neighborhood!

Happy Halloween Everyone! 

Ruthie

Jewelry...why not a home accessory?

I found this strand of wooden beads about 5 years ago at a rummage sale and fell in love with them.  Every time I wear them I get so many compliments.  

I store them around this bust that is outside my bedroom in the hallway and I think it adds some character to this grouping of items.

How do you store your jewelry? 

(Some of my favorite necklaces)

I have some tall glass jars on my bathroom counter that I store items in that I use daily (cotton balls, q-tips, etc).  The first thing that I do when I come home after a long day working is take off all my  jewelry.  I became lazy and started hanging my strands of pearls and other necklaces on the lid of these jars. 

After a while, it started to grow on me and I enjoyed looking at these jewelry pieces. 

One of the jars has slowly collected all of our favorite shells that my family has found on our beach walks while on vacation.

My oldest daughter made these little clay "Mom and Dad" treasures and of course they went in the jar too.  I love looking at them while I get ready for the day.  These are the kinds of things that make me smile and bring me great joy because there are memories attached to these treasures.

My favorite bracelet that I purchased while visiting my family in Africa a couple of years ago has also landed on the lid of one of the jars.  I wear it ALL the time.

Why not put your jewelry items out where you can enjoy them, they make a great home accessory! 

Ruthie tip of the day:  Necklaces make great curtain tie backs.  I've used pearl, wooden & shell necklaces to enhance the drape and make an unusual statement.

Do you have a favorite place to hang/place your jewelry?

Ruthie

Visit DecRenew Interiors for more ideas and before and after pictures.

Cheese Pumpkins Anyone?

"Betty Crocker" Recipe

Here's what I'm going to make for my guests this weekend!

Aren't they adorable?  I'm going to serve them with assorted imported cheeses and some fresh bread!

MINI CHEESE PUMPKINS

8 tablespoons smoked Cheddar cold pack cheese food (from 8-oz container)

2 teaspoons finely chopped peanuts

4 butter-flavored pretzel spindles or sticks, broken in half
16 tiny pieces fresh parsley leaves

Line small serving plate with waxed paper. Roll each level tablespoon cold pack cheese food into a ball; place on waxed paper-lined serving plate. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes for easier handling.

With end of toothpick, draw ridges around balls to resemble pumpkins. Dip bottoms of cheese balls in chopped peanuts. (I'm going to use crushed pretzel crackers for mine).

Just before serving, insert pretzel halves into cheese balls for pumpkin stems. Decorate with parsley for leaves. Store in refrigerator.

On another note......My youngest daughter made this pumpkin with her cousin this weekend and I thought I'd show it off!

Good old sharpie markers work great on pumpkins!

Have a great "spooky" week!

Ruthie



Estate Sale Treasure - $1.00

I love a good find! A treasure!

I found this oil painting (29w X 29h) at an estate sale for $1.00.

It spoke to me......It said "fall is around the corner"

It's now placed in my entry as a reminder that it will soon be cool.  Love the "sketchy" little cabin and the simplicity of the natural surrounding it sits in.  It looks cozy and I can almost smell the fireplace wood burning and the potato soup on the stove.

Thank you hubby for these fall flowers....given to me just because you know I LOVE the small things that touch my life.

Live beautifully today,

Ruthie

Go to my website here.



"Using what you have" window treatments

I've been working with an amazing couple for about 4 years now.  I helped them with their first home with all the accessories, draperies, furniture, etc. and I feel like I made their house feel like home, I think they feel the same way!  It was good fun to watch the house transform!  Everything we purchased made the house look polished, classy and it definitely looked its best.

They moved about a year ago and were able to take all the items we purchased with them!  Of course their home sold very quickly because it was decorated and the detail showed off the home beautifully.

They were able to take some of the drapery panels we had made with them to their new house.  However, some of them didn't fit their new windows.  I suggested that instead of having new draperies made we could "use what we have" but add some fabric to the bottom to make the length work.  They agreed to my idea and I went on a fabric hunt.

The fabric that I found compliments the decorative trim beautifully, don't you think?

So here's what we did.

Added 12" to the bottom of the panel.

I believe that if you are going to use retail draperies and bump them up a notch with trim, additional fabric, etc. it is important that you don't skimp on the hardware.  The hardware is what can make or break the way your drapes look.  They are the jewelry that finish off the look!  If your outfit is beautiful, you can ruin it with the wrong jewelry.  Same concept goes for draperies.

In this dining room, we incorporated some of the items that were passed down from their family members that had some special meaning to them. 

One drapery panel on each side of the window and they add height, interest, color and a finished look to the room.  This window was a tricky one to work with because of all the trim and the arch.  I love it when draperies don't cover up the whole window but add to the architecture and enhance the space they are in.

What do you have that you can dress up and reuse?

Ruthie

Visit my website for more before and after pictures to inspire you!

Front yard therapy

We are slowly working on some of our front yard landscaping.    My husband and I enjoy working together on projects and I find it relaxing & good therapy to make things look nice.  I love renewing or improving and thankfully my husband does too.

This past weekend, my 16 year old nephew worked incredibly hard in our front yard.  I had two very large bushes in front of the porch that totally blocked my view and blocked the light in my entryway.  They were overgrown and covered part of the walkway. They grew fast too and constantly needed trimming in order for guests to be able to pass through to my front porch without getting poked to death by a prickly bush.

He REMOVED the bushes (replanted in the backyard) and we replaced them with these large concrete planters.  The scale of the planters works well with the height of the house now.  My friends and family will be glad to know that they won't be attacked by the bushes now when they come visit.

For now, I've filled each one with a large pumpkin for the season.

As you can see, I've got some work to do in the flowerbeds now.  One project always starts another.  This weekend I'll be adding some pebbles and a border to finish it off.

I plan on adding some boxwood topiaries to the urns once the fall season is over.

.  This is what it should look like.  I'll have fun decorating for the holidays with these mini Christmas trees.  I'll add some ivy around the edges so it cascades down the urn.

Now we just need this Texas weather to cooperate with us!!!  It's still so hot.  86 degrees yesterday!

Ruthie

DecRenew Interiors

Country Retreat

This past few days I decorated a house for a client that I've been working with for the past several months. I prepared a vision for them and they decided to go for it!  I've been preparing for their installation carefully, excitedly and thoughtfully. This week we redid their family room, dining room, master bedroom, game room and pool house.  They live out in the country with lots of acreage and lots of privacy.  The home and the pool house overlook their stunning pool/courtyard and the views of their property are magnificent.   It truly is a restful retreat! 

My team and I decked out their house and their pool house with furniture, accessories, draperies, lighting, rugs and much more.  It was a lot of hard work but a very rewarding  and fun project.   Here are a some snapshots I took of the space. 

The house is full of light, sorry for the glare in the photos.

BEFORE

AFTER

We incorporated some of their existing items with the new selections.

BEFORE

AFTER

Close up AFTER

BEFORE Re-upholstery

I reupholstered these 2 club chairs..  My client loved their shape and quality and they are very comfortable. 

AFTER Re-upholstery

Added a new leather round ottoman too so the family can gather around and play games in front of the fireplace.  Chess anyone?

Don't they make a beautiful vignette?  Cozy and intimate.  The mirror on the mantel adds some sophistication and elegance to this rustic style.

Pool House BEFORE

Pool House AFTER

My client plays guitar and uses the pool house for practicing with his buddies.  He wanted me to incorporate his existing artwork and we added some new colorful artwork.

Pool House BEFORE

Pool House AFTER

Looks so much more stylish and has an eclectic flare.

These hand carved teak chairs really made the room come together.  I wanted to keep these for myself but I resisted.

Here are some of the accessories

we added throughout the house.

Added a new 9X12 rug to their dining room.

The rug and drapes coordinate beautifully.  Notice how they go with the reupholstered chairs which are in the adjoining room.

The niche which was way up high in the living room is now decorated with style.

Gathered things from here and there to personalize.

Added gorgeous hand painted wall art.  Artwork and draperies can create amazing height to any room.

Yes, scaffolding was needed!

Client had this painting already and It was my inspiration for the colors for the house decor.  I added the tall lamps and the arrangement to the console table and now it is a beautiful grouping.  They had selected lamps but I replaced them with these because the others were way too short.  Scale is everything!

I added a decorative leather box underneath the arrangement to make it higher and to add interest.

Found this wooden box/basket filled with all kinds of trinkets and emptied it out so I could use it for these fresh fall flowers.

I am so excited when my interior design encourages families to gather together.  There is nothing better than being at home with your friends and family that you love.  Home is a place where we should gather and enjoy each other. 

I hope this transformation makes this family spend more time together in their lovely home!

If they do, I will feel like I've done my job well! 

Feeling Blessed,

Ruthie

Today I am also participating in Metamorphis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Contact DecRenew Interiors if you would like to set up your consultation.