There are times when I refinish a piece of furniture and replace the hardware with prettier, new hardware.

Then there are times when the original hardware is gorgeous–or I want to keep the vintage look of the furniture–and I want to keep it. But it's not always in the best shape.
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On this recent project, the hardware was really interesting, with beautiful details, and I wanted to see if I could salvage it. The only issue I had was that I had never before used a product to clean hardware. So I started my research.

​There are several options for cleaning vintage hardware. Some processes and products are harsher than others. But there are some more natural options if you would prefer. For this project, I decided to use a product that had some great reviews.

My choice was Bar Keepers Friend and a metal brush*. If I used more elbow grease, I would have been able to get every little hint of grease/dirt off the hardware, but I spent some time on the fronts only and was thrilled with the finished product.
I've added photos (click to the links) for the items I used.

This particular product is available in a powder (that I used), a spray and also a cream polish. I found that the powder was the best option for this brass hardware. I'd love to hear your process for cleaning hardware, or if you use Bar Keepers Friend on a future project.

*I suggest using gloves when using this product.

Why do we have such a hard time decorating our mantle? I do, too, and this is what I do for a living! My mantle is the toughest of all. Maybe it's because I'm used to looking at it and I'm sick of my furnishings. LOL! Well, in any case, I have some rules of thumb to make things so much easier for you.
You want to keep 3 things in mind:

1. Your anchor.
2. Weight.
3. Filler.
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Anchor
What is an anchor? The anchor will be the largest/tallest piece/s that will sit on or above your mantle. It is a piece that has the most visual weight, takes up a considerable amount of space on the wall above the mantle, and will balance the firebox for the upper portion of the wall.
Examples of an anchor: TV, mirror, artwork, clock, or any other large piece of home décor that you love. You can even use two (or more) complementary items that will group together to become your anchor.
​You can create some asymmetry by placing your anchor piece(s) off-center, if you'd like. Asymmetry creates some interest, and with other pieces you will see that it works beautifully and as well as if you center it on/above the mantle.

Weight
​Now that you have placed your anchor piece, you will need to add some "weight" to the left and the right of it. I'm talking visual weight here, not necessarily physical weight. We need to take up some space with items on the left and right of the mantle. These objects do not need to be identical, but should carry the same visual weight and height. They should be shorter than your anchor piece and visually take up roughly the same amount of space. Again, you can group two or three items to achieve this step.
Take note of the scale of the pieces. You want them to be able to hold their "weight" with the anchor piece without looking too big and bulky or too lightweight. As well as the scale, you want to be aware of the shape and color of the items. There should be some contrast with the anchor and whatever else is on the wall. You don't want the pieces to get lost or get too matchy-matchy.

​ Filler
The filler will be the smallest pieces on your mantle. These pieces will add more color, shape and interest. To create a clean, minimal design, you can skip this step altogether. It's totally up to you and your style.
When using filler pieces, use items in varying heights to avoid creating a horizontal line across the mantle. You can always add a book or a short candlestick under a very small piece that would otherwise be too tiny and get lost.
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Some other quick tips:
- When looking at the completed mantle design, it should make a triangular shape, beginning with the top of your anchor piece being the highest point, and the pieces and design getting smaller and wider at the bottom, to encompass the entire mantle. (The highest point doesn't have to be in the middle either!)
- Using a "themed" design is great if you have a collection of items that lend themselves to a mantle design as described. (See design with cutting boards, above.)
- Leave some white space. Designers (both interior and graphic designers) talk about white space. What is it? It means leaving some empty space for your eyes to rest. It means being uncluttered. You don't want your design to be so busy that your eye doesn't know where to look. 
- Layer your items. Don't be afraid to lean items against the wall rather than hang them. Layer a couple of frames or pieces of art. Layer your fillers. Adding items in front of the anchor piece/s is a great look. Just be aware of the size of the fillers so that they don't cover too much of the object. :-)- These tips work great for any surface. So if you have a buffet, entertainment center, dresser, or any surface for that matter, follow these rules of thumb and create a gorgeous design with items that you love.

Happy decorating!

Photo credits to: tidbitsandtwine.com, thehappyhousie.porch.com and home.tvizlehdi.com

As you know, I'm a big supporter of recycling and upcycling items to use as home décor. I talk about it all the time. I share tips, tricks and projects. And I advise my clients to use what they have before purchasing new furnishings and décor items. 
There are so many ideas, but I'm going to share with you my five favorite no-cost/low-cost and eco-friendly ways to decorate your home.
1. Shop in your house - Chances are, you have décor and furnishings in the attic, the basement, and even in closets that you've forgotten about. Do a sweep of your house to look for pieces that could be used where you need a functional item. Think out of the box and forget how a piece was designed to function, but think about how it could function.
2. Thrift shops, yard sales, online sites - You can find some great items for short money from these sources. There are people who are just looking to clean out their homes and therefore price items very low. These are also the perfect places to find vintage furniture. Antiques are typically well-made and very sturdy. If a piece is  structurally sound, but isn't very pretty, look beyond the "ugly" and think about how a coat of paint or refinishing could freshen it up. And, of course, don't forget to check out all our fun pieces at Better Than Before Home Furnishings! ;-)
3. DIY décor - Get creative! Pinterest is my favorite place to find ideas. Do a search for an item that you have or that you need and see how many ideas pop up. It's amazing how much lovely décor can be made with what you have lying around the house. Artwork can be made very easily by framing beautiful calendar photos, maps or even a scrap of fabric. Glass pickle or mason jars can be spray painted and used as vases. Or an old cutting board can be painted with chalkboard paint and become a message board for the family. The possibilities are endless!
4. Natural elements - Nature offers so many treasures. Pinecones, pebbles, shells and sea glass make great fillers for vases or candleholders. A piece of driftwood is a nice piece of table décor. And, of course, if you have a garden, fresh flowers always bring beauty into a room.
5. Swap with friends - We all get tired of our own décor at some point. Before you take a trip to the second-hand shop to make a donation, call up some friends and see if they're ready to do the same. Have a girls' night and ask everyone to bring several pieces (or pictures of furniture, if the items are large) and swap your less-than-loved items. You can create a new look and help your friends do the same.

Have you ever refinished a piece of furniture? Well, I haven't. Not in the sand-down-to-raw-wood-and-restain-it type of way. I typically paint furniture. And when my client asked me to refresh this table she was gifted, I have to admit that I was a little bit scared–especially after she told me that it was about 100 years old, and very dear to her. Yikes! 
She had been a client for about a year and I've been to her home numerous times, picking up furniture pieces to paint for her. So when she told me she'd like me to refinish an antique table, I thought, 'No problem!' Until she gave me all the details. 
She told me that she didn't want it painted. Ok then. Did she want it re-stained? If she did, I have some contacts I can refer her to. Nope. Then what did she want? She really didn't know, but she did know that she didn't want it painted or re-stained. So I told her I could clean it up and make it look new again. I thought, 'OMG, I can't ruin this table!'
So my research began... I wanted to find a way to do this without having to strip or sand, but that resulted in a beautiful finished product.

Here's what the table looked like before I touched it.
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​ There were lighter spots and darker spots (I assumed that some were water stains) in the wood. The table is very sturdy and there were really no deep scratches or holes, so overall, it was in pretty good condition. Now to get to work.

Here's what I used from start to finish (Links to the products are at the bottom of this post.): 
- Cotton rags
- Super Fine (#0000) steel wool
- Murphy's Oil Soap
- Howard Restor-A-Finish (Natural)
- Howard Feed-N-Wax

The first thing I did was use Murphy's Oil Soap and a wet rag to wash the entire piece. By doing this, I was able to wash off any surface dirt and oil.
Next–and I was really nervous about this part–I took some super fine steel wool and dipped it into Howard's Restor-A-Finish and started scrubbing (WITH the grain. Always WITH the grain). I started slowly because I was afraid that I'd leave scratch marks on the table. But the wool is so fine that it didn't leave any marks. I kept dipping the wool into the product to be sure my wool didn't get dry, and I finished the entire table. 
It took a little elbow grease–and I probably could have used more to get deeper into the wood, but it did strip off enough of the finish and get the grime off the table. Every so often, after finishing a small area, I'd take a wet rag and wash away the dirty Restor-A-Finish from the table so it didn't seep back into the wood.
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Here's an in-process shot. You can see that many of the stains have been removed and the beautiful grain of the wood is visible.

Click on any product below to purchase.

I was the kid who always had paper in front of her and crayons in her hand. 
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I was the kid who doodled all over the TV Guide, tracing the letters and drawing pictures on it. 

I was the girl who loved to take the junk mail and scrap paper to keep as a stash to write and draw on. 

I was the girl who drew Tippy from her parents’ matchbooks and mailed it in, hoping to be recognized. 

I was the girl who took the weekly challenge from the newspaper and drew a picture from a squiggle, hoping to win the prize.

I was the teen who finally found an art teacher who took an interest in teaching her how to draw and had talent from which she could learn.

I was the teen who wanted to go to art school, but whose practical parents talked into getting a business degree.

I was the mom who, after 15 years picked up a pencil and started to sketch her infant daughter, but left the sketch unfinished.

I was the woman who, feeling unfulfilled in her corporate job, started a side business to unleash the creativity that was screaming to be freed.

I am the woman who, after 30 years has decided to re-introduce herself to her first love, and have an affair of a lifetime.

I am an artist.