Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2018 i American Farmhouse Style

As we crawl out of winter hibernation, renovations are top of mind. My husband and I are redoing our own kitchen this year, and the glittery vision is a dream come true: white cabinets, butcher block countertops, subway tile backsplash, pendant lighting and, of course, an apron-front sink. But with the opportunity to customize comes plenty of chances to make mistakes. My natural response is to research every tiny detail in the hopes that our mistakes will be small. But there will be those inevitable weekends with four trips to the hardware store, eating take-out on paper plates and calling in family and friends for backup. But the end result is so worth it. So, feast your eyes on this issue with inspiration, information and ideas. If you’re considering a…

Tea towels are one of those kitchen items that constantly need replacing. Even if you try to leave the decorative ones alone, guests, kids and spouses often use them, and inevitably they get stains. But don’t worry! We have a tea towel for you to make so you can enjoy a fresh and beautiful piece in your kitchen this spring. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Printer and printer paper• Iron-on transfer paper• Plain cotton or linen tea towel• Large wood cutting board• Pillowcase• Scissors WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Copy the Farm Fresh graphic onto regular printer paper. We’ve already flipped the image for you, so it should be backward when you copy it. 2. Adjust the size of the graphic as needed. To double check the size, hold the paper in…

1. ANISE HYSSOP. Perfumed and edible, this herb not only smells wonderful but makes for a great tea. But beware of bees—they love hyssop, too. 2. ARTEMISIA. Beautiful to look at and wonderful to smell, it’s no wonder this herb is often used to make perfumes. Grow in full sun and don’t overwater. 3. LEMON BALM. Living up to its name, this herb’s leaves both taste and smell like lemon. Beware of their tendency to take over, and grow them in their own container. 4. GERANIUMS. Did you know that you can actually eat rose-scented geraniums? They have surprising health benefits, and are also great at getting rid of insects in the rest of your garden.…

How do you turn local spring wildflowers into gorgeous bouquets? Rebekah Clark Moody’s new book Foraged Flower Arranging: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Stunning Arrangements from Local, Wild Plants details every step you’ll need to create the perfect floral arrangement without growing flowers yourself. You can forage for them as you take walks in your local woods, gardens or other public areas. Here are a few of Rebekah’s tips on how to collect the right flowers, branches and grasses to liven up your home this spring. COLLECT WITH CARE The first step to create your perfect floral arrangement is to collect plants and flowers from your area. “The most important lesson in foraging is to keep your eyes open,” Rebekah writes. Find inspiration by taking a walk or researching native…

When your new house has a master bathroom from the ‘90s, it’s time for an upgrade. Blogger Katie Taylor of Spray Paint and Chardonnay recently moved into her home in Austin, Texas, and she’s set to work renovating. “The house was built in 1994, and the bathroom probably hadn’t been touched since,” she says. She wanted a modern farmhouse feel that would stay functional, stylish and fit into her budget. “I was on a budget, but I didn’t want to spend the money I was spending on something I wasn’t going to love.” RENOVATION RESCUE Katie replaced almost every element in the bathroom. Out went the existing tile and wallpaper, the built-in vanity, bathtub, shower and even the closet doors. In went a freestanding bathtub, prefab vanity, brass hardware and…

CURRENT USE. The key to deciding on a bathtub versus shower is if you have anyone in your family who uses the bathtub. If you have young children, you’ll want at least one tub in the house. But if you don’t have small kids and don’t take baths very often, then a shower-only option might work for you. TRENDY VERSUS CLASSIC. The current trend is to replace bathtubs with luxurious, walk-in showers like Samantha did here. This is a great option because most of us take more showers than baths, and it’s convenient to have that extra space. On the other hand, though bathtub/shower combos are much less popular right now, that option would allow you to fit both a bathtub and shower into the same square footage in a…

WOOD. Butcher block countertops look homey and are a great option for DIY renovations, as they are cost-effective and easy to install. They do, however, come with a bit of maintenance, and you’ll need to treat them periodically to keep them waterproof. Also, be sure to note if you want the surface to be edge-grain, which looks like long strips, or end grain, which creates a checkerboard pattern. GRANITE. This stone material is a classic option that can be coordinated to suit most color palettes. Granite is also very durable—it’s one of the hardest natural materials on earth, though be sure to wipe up spills quickly to avoid staining the stone over time. The cost of granite has dropped as it has become more wide-spread, so it’s comparable to other…

Just about any home can transform into a country haven with some hard work and creativity. When blogger Cami Graham of Tidbits and her husband Kevin moved into their 1990 Northern Utah home, it was dark and outdated. With an overwhelming amount of orange maple wood and rooms that received no direct natural light, they knew they had their work cut out for them. They decided to use Cami’s design skills and creativity and Kevin’s woodworking expertise to create the bright and inviting farmhouse of their dreams. They decided to use Cami’s design skills and creativity and Kevin’s woodworking expertise to create the bright and inviting farmhouse of their dreams. MAKING A HOME Cami describes her style as a mixture of “a farmhouse in France and a cottage on the…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Old table or other furniture • Degreaser or deglosser • Cleaning rags • Wood filler • Putty knife • Medium-grit (60-100) and fine-grit (120-400) sandpaper • Foam roller • Small paint brush • Shellac-based primer • Furniture paint (Susan used a 50/50 mix of Antique White and Snow White General Finish Milk Paints) • Water-based sealant or topcoat WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Clean your piece with a degreaser or deglosser. Let it dry completely. 2. Inspect the piece for scratches or gouges and fill them with wood filler. Let it dry again. 3. Sand the entire piece with a medium-grit sandpaper. 4. Paint on the primer with a foam roller for flat surfaces and a brush for smaller areas. Susan recommends a shellac-based primer like B-I-N…

DON’T BUY IT. Hunt for used pallets you can get for free. “We go to hardware stores,” Jessica says. “Ace Hardware is a big one for me.” Go to the loading zone and see if there are any pallets lying around, then ask if you can take them. Make sure you inspect them for rotted boards, mold and stains. USE A SAWZALL SAW. The tricky part about pallet wood is removing the nails to take the pallets apart. But instead of taking the nails out, George and Jessica simply cut them apart. “We use a Sawzall saw and cut the nails in half,” Jessica says. You can also leave the nail heads in the wood instead of removing them. “I like the nail heads in. It adds more character,” Jessica…

1. BUY WHAT YOU LOVE. Antiques shopping isn’t the place for mulling over a purchase. “Buy what you love, because you can always find a spot for it, and you may never see it again,” Sarah says. Chances are, it won’t be there the next time you go back, so be decisive and don’t ignore any one-of-a-kind pieces. 2. GO TO ESTATE SALES. “Don’t be afraid of estate sales,” Sarah says. Sign up for newsletters so you’ll receive alerts when they’re going on. You’ll sometimes even be able to see pictures of the items. Also, if things don’t sell on the first day, they’re usually discounted on the second or third days of the sale. 3. SHOP OFTEN. Thrift and antiques stores are always selling and buying new items. “Go…

1. PREP AHEAD. Make sure you do enough preparation ahead of time to avoid last minute rushing that will leave you frazzled when your guests arrive. A list will be your friend here. Write out everything you have to get done and prioritize based on what you can do beforehand, and what you’ll need to do the day before or the day of. 2. PICK THE RIGHT MUSIC. Music is a great addition to any party. Pick music based on your desired party style. You could make a playlist or use a streaming service like Pandora to ensure the music fits the theme. For larger gatherings, live music is always a bonus. For a low-cost option, hire student musicians to come play for a portion of the event. 3. USE…

SEE. A home filled with light always feels welcoming. Install clerestories, large windows or tubular day lighting devices to create an inviting space that promotes healing and overall well-being (especially for those with seasonal affect disorder, and those who suffer vitamin D deficiency). HEAR. Soundscapes, soothing music and listening to natural outdoor sounds have a relaxing effect, especially during high-stress times. Try reducing the manmade noise in and around your home. Install a light bell chime or a small in-home fountain to make your space more welcoming. SMELL. Make sure to get some fresh air in the house. De-odorize your home with candles or essential oils. Place a small bowl of activated charcoal or white vinegar behind a curtain or on a windowsill to also eliminate odor and promote fresh…

ALMANAC PAGE 6 For more on Megan, visit florallyyoursco.com. Photography: Kolini Photo. Visit koliniphoto.com. MADE IN AMERICA PAGE 16 For more on Woodwöl, visit woodwol.com. PANEL DISCUSSION PAGE 26 For more on Sarah, visit sarahcatherinedesign.com. A FRESH START PAGE 32 For more on Katie, visit spraypaintandchardonnay.com. Bathtub, vanity: Home Depot. (800) 466-3337 or homedepot.com. Floor tiles: Lowe’s. (800) 445-6937 or lowes.com. George Kovacs sconces: Amazon. Visit amazon.com. Gold mirrors: CB2. (800) 606-6252 or cb2.com. Sink faucets, showerhead: eFaucets. (844) 372-7970 or efaucets.com RUSTIC-STYLE RENOVATION PAGE 36 For more on Samantha, visit juxtaposedinteriors.com. Faucets: Kohler. (800) 456-4537 or kohler.com. Lighting and vanity: Restoration Hardware. (800) 910-9836 or restorationhardware.com. Mirrors: West Elm. (888) 922-4119 or westelm.com. Shower and floor tiles: Walker Zanger. (732) 697-7700 or walkerzanger.com. Stools: Serena and Lily. (866) 597-2742…

FOR THIS DIY, you’ll need cut flowers, greenery, floral wire, floral tape, floral shears and wire cutters. Wrap the wire around your head to size your crown, then add 2”. Cut and close the circle with floral tape. Make sure it rests loosely on your head. Now the fun part. Start taping flowers and greenery to the wire. Leave 3” of stem on each flower to secure it to your base. Work your way around the entire crown to cover up any empty spaces. It’s up to you if you want to design a full and lush crown or a more delicate style with more greenery.…

As the weather thaws, don your painting clothes and get ready to upcycle. You can add character to your farmhouse using Hester Van Overbeek’s DIY book, Made with Salvaged Wood: 35 Contemporary Projects for Furniture & Other Home Accessories Created from Recycled Wood. Van Overbeek shares 35 projects for transforming recycled wood into beautiful home accessories and furniture. One such project is a salvaged door turned into a table. Van Overbeek writes, “If you want to build your own table, but aren’t an experienced DIY-er, this table is the perfect place to start.” Head to your local reclamation yard for a door that already has a beautiful patina, or simply go for a stripped wood door you can paint yourself. Many doors have panels, so you need to fill these…

BE PICKY. When designing your own containers, be sure to create focal points. Scatter your creations among your small space so the colors don’t become cluttered. EMBRACE THE ODDITIES. Use odd numbers to choose how many plants you want in a specific container to create that true urban farm look. SOAK IN THE LIGHT. Beware of how the sun will reach your plants, and make sure to pair species with similar light and water requirements. This will affect how they grow and thrive. SET THE STAGE. Start with evergreen plants, then sprinkle in splashes of color. Choose annual plants that have an extended blooming period for longevity and color that will last all year. COLOR PALETTE CONUNDRUM. Don’t oversaturate your patio with too many colorful flowers and plants in addition…

The stool is one of the most basic pieces of furniture, and has been around for millennia, from Egyptian pharaohs to Roman consuls. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that stools moved to home bar areas. The idea of the home bar, and bar stools, took off in the midcentury and spawned a wide variety of styles and materials, including options with cushions and backs. Tip DON’T OVERCROWD YOUR BAR WITH TOO MANY STOOLS. THERE SHOULD BE 26-30 INCHES BETWEEN THE CENTER OF EACH STOOL TO PROVIDE PERSONAL SPACE.…

Whether you’re out in the wilderness or in the backyard, you might run into poison ivy, oak or sumac while you’re foraging. Here are a few facts to help you identify and avoid them. POISON IVY. Remember the saying? Leaves of three, let them be. Poison ivy leaves always grow in clusters of three with pointed tips at their ends. The plant can be red or green in color, and it thrives in many conditions. Watch out for it on the ground, in the form of a shrub or even vines growing on trees. POISON OAK. This one’s a little trickier to spot; poison oak leaves look like normal oak leaves, so keep an eye out. Typically, their leaves grow in clusters of three, but can reach up to nine…

LAYOUT. If you’re adding a new bathroom or enlarging an existing bathroom, budget not only for the furniture and fixtures, but the cost of moving walls and redoing the plumbing and electrical. To keep the costs down, work within the current footprint. PLUMBING. Moving the location of your bathtub, sinks or toilet will increase the cost of the renovation. Sometimes, there’s just no way around a layout reconfiguration. But if you want to keep the cost down, leave the plumbing where it is and make sure you get faucets and drains that will match the location and configuration of the current plumbing. TILE. Especially in older houses, the danger with tile is that mold will develop behind it without you noticing. If you have an older home with tile, inspect…

Every renovation will have its ups and downs—the trick is to be patient and persistent. When designer Shannon Weller of Tracy Lynn Studio helped remodel this bathroom in San Diego, California, the size of the space and the homeowner’s desires made the project a challenge, but the end result is a stunning space in which to get ready every morning. This homeowner wanted a freestanding bathtub next to an enlarged glass shower, but there wasn’t enough room for an enlarged shower and full-sized tub. Shannon compromised by adding a smaller freestanding bathtub. “We had to locate an especially small 55” tub that would fit within the limited amount of space,” she says. The siding was also a challenge. Bathrooms get steamy, so moisture is always an issue. But shiplap was…

• SWITCH OUT YOUR PLANTS. The biggest signifier of seasonal changes is nature. Ditch your holly and pine cones in favor of tulips and lilacs. It’s a great way to add pops of color to your home without a long-term commitment. • LET IN LIGHT. With more hours of daylight, you can cut down on your electric bill and return to opening your blinds during the day. Gauzy curtains are perfect for filtering light if want to control how much sun comes into a room. • TRADE HEAVY BLANKETS FOR LIGHT THROWS. Store your fleece and wool blankets and bring out linen and cotton. In the spring, the evenings will still be cool enough to curl up under a blanket, but you’ll want a lighter material. • SPRAY PAINT OLD…

1. FABRIC. Reupholster a couch or a chair to make it feel new again, especially if the shape and structure of the piece are in good condition. Ditch the dated or grimy fabric and customize it with a pattern of your choice. 2. PAINT. Sometimes the solution is as simple as a fresh paint job. If you’re looking to give furniture a farmhouse look, try whitewashing it: Mix your white paint with water to sheer it out so some of the original paint or finish will show through. 3. WOOD FINISH. If a wood table or dresser is looking scratched and scuffed, redo the finish to make it look new again. Make sure to sand and stain it before applying the finish, as this will buffer out any previous scratches,…

1. BASKETS. These are as practical as they are beautiful. Use them for storing items in your living areas or fill them with flowers or fruit in your kitchen. 2. BOTTLES AND JARS. Whether you add flowers and use them as a vase or keep them empty, glass treasures make great accents anywhere in your home. Plus, they come in many colors, shapes and sizes for a diverse collection. 3. BOOK PAGES. Susan rolls book pages and ties them with string for accent pieces in her den. You can also overlap single pages and hang them on your wall or display vintage books on your coffee table. 4. STRAW HATS. Wear them or hang them for a cute display in a bedroom or garden shed. They also look perfectly at…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Measuring tape • Plywood sheet • Circular saw • Nail gun • Masking tape and painter’s cloth • Paint of choice • Sponge rollers or paint brush WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Use the tape measure to determine how many 6” planks you’ll need. 2. Cut the sheet of plywood to even planks, 6” wide. Your local hardware store might even do this for you. 3. Measure the walls and cut any smaller pieces to the length you need. 4. Use the nail gun to attach the planks to the wall. Start at the top or bottom to make sure your planks are straight. Use a nickel or spacers to keep the spaces between the boards even. 5. Once your shiplap is on the wall, tape off…

POSTERS. Posters of classic western movies like High Noon or Rio Bravo often have interesting artwork and are a fun twist on a typical painting. FARM TOOLS. Hang up rustic farm items like rakes, spurs and wheels to bring a little outdoor adventure to your interior. Plus, you can usually find them for a couple dollars at garage sales. BLANKETS. Pendleton blankets, or blankets with similar geometric patterns, are sturdy and stylish, so you can drape them over your couch or use them out on the porch. BOOTS. Cowboy boots that are old, or no longer fit, are the perfect place to hide flower vases. If you’re going for a southwest design, try succulents instead of the typical tulips and daisies.…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Floral foam block • Candleholder • Small, shallow dish (optional) • Shears and scissors • Cut flowers and greens WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. First, determine whether or not you’ll need the small dish. If the candleholder has a wide candle cavity, you may not need it, but if the candleholder is meant for tapers, secure the dish to the top to create a sufficient base for your foam block. 2. Prep your floral foam by soaking it in water until it’s saturated (up to an hour). There’s no need to submerge it—the foam will soak up the water slowly from a dish or bowl. Try not to handle it much before you saturate it, or it won’t hold water well. Then cut it to size so…

Before you go shopping, work with what you have. Designing a new look on a budget isn’t always an easy task. The idea of restyling your entire home can seem daunting, but with a few helpful hints, you can create the charming farmhouse look you’ve always wanted. Thrifty Chic: Interior Style on a Shoestring by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell takes you through a multitude of different ways to revamp your furnishings that are both fun and economical. Discover how simple changes such as paint color, lighting and mix-matched items can cut costs and create a unique and stylish home. THE ART OF THRIFTING Restyling on a budget doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Bauwens and Campbell write that “thrift can also be inspiring. It forces you to look…

5 AMERICAN WILDFLOWERS TO FIND THIS SPRING Northwest: Blue Columbine. This small flower is beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies. It’s the Colorado state flower, and other variations bloom all over the US in different colors. Midwest: Spiderwort. The genus Tradescantia blooms all over the Americas, and even in the West Indies. The Cherokee tribe used the leaves as a healing poultice and tea. North East: Trillium. Also known as the trinity flower, all its parts come in threes: the petals, leaves and even the seed pods. It blooms in shady woodland areas in a variety of colors. South West: California Poppy. The California state flower is also called the golden poppy or flame flower. It’s on the back of the Canadian $20 bill, and even has its own holiday on…

“Consider how much time you will be able to give in order to maintain your new urban oasis.” Creating a small garden can be a great spring project, whether you want to liven up your urban balcony or the patio on your farm. In her new book, The Balcony Gardner: Creative Ideas for Small Spaces, Isabelle Palmer provides a wonderful place to begin when thinking about accenting your porch, patio or balcony with foliage. START SMALL Palmer lays the groundwork for how to choose plants that will accent your smaller spaces by starting with the containers that will hold your flora or fauna. “You can afford to play around with various layouts, colors, heights and combinations while creating your own green space,” Palmer writes. For example, plant a few larger…

COLANDERS. Attach a hook to your porch ceiling. Connect some jack chain to the sides of a repainted colander and line it with coffee filters or burlap. Fill it with soil and a plant of your choice, and you’ve got some wonderful overhead living décor. CANS. Whether you’ve got an old paint can, or have just made pasta sauce and want to recycle the tomato cans, use the containers to create a small, colorful and creative planter. Use it to hold a single flower or herb, and place it on an accent patio or porch table for display. DRAWERS AND BOXES. Wood boxes or old drawers can be repurposed and painted to hold a small herb garden. Fill with your favorite herbs and experience the wonderful aromas of the season.…

Consider these 3 elements • USES. How and where will you use your bar stools? “Bar stools can be used in a variety of ways and are not limited to the kitchen,” says Andre Gonzalez, owner of Woodwaves. “They can be used for having a meal at the countertop, at the workbench, as an accent in the corner of a room or even as a plant stand.” Having a specific use for the piece will help determine the height and materials that will best suit the space. • HEIGHT. Most bar stools come at three heights: counter height, bar height and extra tall. Measure from the floor to the underside of the counter to determine the stool type you need. Get a counter-height stool for counters 35–37 inches tall, a…

When it comes to farmhouse décor, it’s all about the wood paneling. But is it shiplap you want to install, or were you thinking of clapboard or beadboard? Whether you’re looking for siding for your exterior or to decorate the interior, here are your wood panel options and how they’re different. SHIPLAP This type of wood paneling has overlapping pieces that appear to be stacked side by side. “Shiplap adds subtle dimension to walls and ceilings without being overtly busy,” says Sarah of Sarah Catherine Design. Each piece of wood has a simple L-shaped groove on both sides called a rabbet, which interlocks with the next piece. When the individual pieces stack horizontally, the rabbets help keep the paneling tight and the spacing even. Shiplap comes in a variety of…

It’s not easy to make a 36-square-foot bathroom into a functional and stylish space. Yet that’s just what Samantha Crow, owner and designer of Juxtaposed Interiors, did with this bathroom in Loomis, California. LAYOUT When you’re remodeling a bathroom, focus on function first. “Prior to the remodel there was a single bathtub located under a picture window and vanity with one sink and no shower,” Samantha says. But that layout wasn’t working. This is the main bathroom for the kids in the house, who are old enough that they want to take showers, not baths. “We had to reframe the wall to have a small window installed so we could have a shower,” Samantha says. “We also had to move the toilet over, and the plumbing was a bit of…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Wood piece • Stain or paint (optional) • Computer, printer and copy paper • Pen • Pencil • Tape • Paint pen • Picture hanger hardware (saw tooth or arrow) WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. First, prep your wood. You have complete freedom here. Cut it to the size you want, then stain, paint or leave it in its natural condition. 2. To prepare the lettering, type the words you want in a word processing program on your computer and print it out in the correct size, ensuring it will all fit on your piece of wood. 3. Use a pencil to cover the entire backside of the printed page. The pencil needs to be thick enough to transfer the markings onto your sign. 4. Turn back…

1. WASH. Start by washing your furniture with a wood-safe soap. Once it’s clean, you’ll be able to see how much work it will take to transform it. 2. STRIP. If you need to remove layers of paint or varnish, you’ll want to strip the piece before sanding. Apply a stripping or deglosser solution, wait 15 minutes, then scrape off the layers you want gone. Depending on how many layers you have to take off, you may need to use a stripper after-wash as well. Then wipe it down with a damp rag and let it dry. 3. SAND. Once the piece is completely dry, you can start sanding. Make sure you’re not using a coarse paper (nothing under 150 grit) so you won’t damage the surface. Wipe down the…

Whether found, rescued, bought or made, mixing décor is what makes each farmhouse unique. Homeowner Susan Handler has always loved thrift shopping for interesting pieces and has counted on DIY projects and furniture makeovers to personalize her spaces. However, she hasn’t always been so confident. “I used to be intimidated by power tools, but I wanted to do projects that involved them, so I overcame my fear and got a miter saw, air compressor and pneumatic nail gun,” she says. After sawing, nailing and painting her way through her home, the repetition inspired her blog name, Saw Nail and Paint, and she’s been inspiring homeowners with her DIY style ever since. VINTAGE FARMHOUSE When Susan and her family purchased their home in Seattle, Washington, 13 years ago, it was a…

When you have three young kids and less than 1,000 square feet, you have to get creative to stay sane. George and Jessica Jelly moved into a tiny 1941 home in northern California, which was outdated and needed TLC. Nine years later, they’ve transformed the home into a farmhouse haven for their family, and Jessica is inspiring others through her thriving Instagram account, @the_rusticpallet. “I love adding wood tones. That’s my favorite thing to do with any space.” SMALL SPACE LIVING First things first—how is it possible to fit five people into 925 square feet and keep the house uncluttered and charming? “The trick to a small house is organization and hiding things,” Jessica says. “I’m really good at hiding things.” Not one ounce of the tiny house goes unused.…

How do you renovate a historic farmhouse without losing its old charm? When Sarah Thompson began the renovation process on her family’s new vacation home in Burton, Texas, she knew she wanted to keep it as close to the original design as possible. However, with crumbling wood and an attic built simply for storage, she knew she would have to put in work to straddle the fine line of restoring and altering. KEEPING IT ORIGINAL To keep the original look of the architecture, she decided to take apart the wood, refinish it and use it to build the house back up. Even though this sounds daunting, the process went smoothly. “This house was really happy to get fixed up,” Sarah says. “There really weren’t any issues.” She pays homage to…

Dreams really do come true. After years of searching, mother-daughter duo Kim Serbus and Bailey Hanson purchased an old barn in Minnesota. They’ve always loved entertaining and anything vintage, so together, they transformed the space into The Cottage Farmhouse, a wedding and entertaining venue. Here’s what they recommend to create your own farmhouse-friendly event, even without the professional venue. AMBIENCE IS KEY When entertaining, whether for a wedding or any other occasion, the atmosphere should be your foundation. Kim and Bailey wanted their barn venue to have a European charm in addition to a rustic American feel. They included chandeliers, vintage china and other small touches to help incorporate their theme. “Most importantly, the event is about the guests,” Kim says. “It’s all about pampering and making them feel like…

PAINT. Simply adding a fresh coat of paint can make old items look fresh. Several of the restored rooms in Thrifty Chic are brought back to life through new or differing shades of paint. UNIFIED THEME. Use an existing theme to create a unified look rather than making everything match perfectly. This allows you more freedom in your choice of accessories. Pick up items from a thrift store or salvage yard to add special touches to a room without breaking the bank. ONE NEW ITEM. Purchasing one lavish item might be worth the extra cost. Add one high-end piece to an area full of charming antiques to give an extra edge to the room. The mix of contemporary and vintage produces a highly unique look that takes your room from…