DIY Hutch in the Entryway

Welcome to a new February week, friends!

Recently, I had the honor of being featured in Artful Blogging Magazine. One of the "perks" of that experience was receiving a gift card for Stampington & Company's  online store, The Shoppe at Somerset. 

If you haven't visited Stampington's website or shop, you will simply be amazed at all of the creative resources they offer. This is not a "sponsored" post, I've really just been a fan of their magazines and website for years! 

So, this week I thought it would be fun to show you a little DIY hutch I made to replace the dresser that's been in the foyer. The dresser has been moved back to the living room {post on that soon} and I decided this would be a good spot to display some of the new things I chose from The Shoppe at Somerset, and start adding a hint of spring to our home. 

For a girl like me who is always on a very tight budget, I'm all about 'shopping' my own house and re-inventing pieces for a new purpose and a fresh look. To be able to have some actual new (!) decor items to play with is such a treat for me! 


Here are the pieces I pulled together to create the hutch that will showcase some of my new pieces alongside some of my timeworn favorites. 

If ever there was a workhorse piece of furniture in my home, this little table is it! 

About 7 or 8 years ago, I was driving home and spotted this table curbside next to the 'leftover' pile from a yard sale. 

Reflecting back now, there may have been voices coming from my family in the van yelling things like, "Nooooo, Mom!" and "Don't do it!!" and "It's reaaaally ugly!!". 

Maybe. 

My memory isn't always the best.

Anyway, needless to say, I stopped. The woman who had been hosting the sale came to her front door and said, "Please take it!". 

Alrighty, then!

I stuffed it in the van, ignoring the protests and eye rolling,  and I've never regretted it! 

This sturdy little table has been an end table, a sofa table, a nightstand, a desk, a kitchen island and last Valentine's Day, it even served as our Valentine Love Note Station.

Okay, enough gushing about my little table....

The next piece in the equation is a cute little white bookshelf that I actually paid for at a yard sale many years ago : ) All of five dollars, I think. 

(Sorry, terrible photo)

I removed the wood pieces that the legs are attached to so it could sit on top of the little wood table. 

If the bookshelf never goes back to being a free standing piece again, I will definitely use these for another project. I already have a few ideas brewing...

The last piece I used to create the 'bones' of the hutch is a vintage cabinet door that I also picked up curbside last spring. 

It fits perfectly across the bottom leg braces of the table, creating a generously sized shelf. 
Now, I'm guessing a lot of you would probably paint this table. I have thought about it, but I just like the warmer wood tone and the aged look of it in combination with my other painted pieces. 

It's all ready to add some fun things! 

On the top of the hutch, a little chalkboard I created from an old kitchen cabinet door with my thrift store "N" in front, a vintage scoop and white iron bird. 

My new french farmhouse caddy from The Shoppe at Somerset! It actually has four sections inside and I'm already thinking of all the different ways I'll be able to use it. Fun!

In my last post {over here} I showed you a gorgeous bucket of flowers from my friend. Sadly, this Baby's Breath and greenery are all that's left of it this week. I need another bucket of flowers! 

My old tin pitcher, iron bird, fern print and weathered black frame have been around here a long time. 

On this shelf, a couple of new, and just new to me, items. The composition book and metal library drawer are from Stampington and the old wood finials I picked up at a thrift store this week for about a dollar. 

I know this library drawer is going to be used in many different ways for a long time to come. So many possibilities! 

I haven't had an actual garden for over 3 years, and I couldn't find any of my old tools. I just tucked in this vintage metal scoop because I like the way the aged metal looks with the other items. 

This sweet little bird has been in my collection for quite a few years.



I bought this rustic looking wooden box at a thrift store last year. I don't think it's really as old as it looks, but I thought it had some charm to it. I attached an old wooden knob to it to make it look more like an old drawer. 

If I'm smart, I'll toss my keys in there when I come in the door so I'm not always looking for them!

On the bottom, I started with this wire basket. It was (you guessed it) another curbside freebie last spring.
I can't wait to see what I find at this year's community "Spring Clean-Up"! 

In the basket I placed some old field guides, a vintage black scrapbook cover with a green chalkboard attached to it, another cabinet door chalkboard and the galvanized flower bucket from my friend. 

No, the tulips aren't real. Let's just pretend, okay? ; )

I put my blue kitchen stool next to the hutch for a little spring color.

At one time this iron bird trellis was in my flower garden (at my previous home). I think the white plastic light switch really enhances the rustic look of this piece, don't you? {smile}

I wonder if I'll ever have a garden spot again...

 Looking down to the foyer from the upstairs hallway. 

 

Here's what this area looked like when I shared it with you this past Fall. {you can see that post here}

 And today with my practically free DIY hutch. 

While I don't "love" not having much money to spend, I do love being able to pull together something new from items I already have. That's part of what Creating a Life means! 

What are you working on this week? I'd love to hear about what's changing at your place!

Blessings-

     Jeanette



Join me this week over at
The Scoop Mega Spring Party at StoneGable
What's it Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Thrifty Life Thursday at Revisionary Life
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Under $100 Party at Beyond the Picket Fence
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

The Scoop at The Everyday Home
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Nature Inspired Fall Foyer {Pt. 2}- The Stairway

As I sit in my living room writing this post this afternoon, this is the view from my window. Brrr!

All that cold sure makes for a pretty view though, right? 

If there's anything prettier than fall trees in all their glory, it's fall trees with a bit of snow in the background. 

 Just gorgeous! {she says, from her toasty living room}

In my last post I welcomed you in out of the cold into our Nature Inspired Foyer.

As you step into the entryway, the stairs are straight ahead. When we moved into this home I saw the grand potential of this 2-story wall along the stairs. Oh, the possibilities for this expansive space!

I've had visions of a gallery wall of family photos, and my kids' framed artwork. Or how about one or two giant handmade pieces?

Fast forward nearly 3 years (!) and the wall was still a big blank canvas of potential. Knowing I didn't have the supplies on hand {or the cash} to create some of the ideas that have been spinning around in my brain, I figured I'd finally just get moving on creating something with things I already have around here.

After picking through my junk, I decided to use three unique, but similar, wood pieces as a starting point to add some interest to this stairway wall.

I started with the chunky wood piece that sort of looks like a section of fence. This was a curbside freebie I picked up last spring. I recently tried using it as a doormat on my simple Fall front porch, but ultimately decided I was too likely to trip on it!

One top of each of the white wood pieces, I layered three identical rustic frames {thrift store purchase, several years ago}, and placed a simple collection of items from nature. In this first frame, a feather and egg.

Heading up, the second white painted wood piece I used is the lid from a toy crate that once held some sort of a building set. The toys are gone now, but of course I just knew the crate would be useful for something. 

Again, layered with a rustic frame, this time framing a fall leaf and an abandoned wasp's nest I found outside our home.   

 

 The last white painted wood piece I used is an old cabinet door from when we remodeled our kitchen at our last home. Why do I still have this cabinet door, you ask? Uum... well... I knew I'd need it as wall decor some day? 

Anyway, now it is wall decor. Layered with the last rustic frame, an acorn and...

...this cute little guy I swiped from my daughter's toy animal collection. 

What I really like about this set of layered frames is how easy it will be to change out the items inside the frames whenever the whim strikes me! 

On the upper stairway wall I hung a large canvas with the frame side out. I bought the canvas at a thrift store a couple of years ago for around a dollar. 
Someone had spray painted something decidedly unattractive on the front, but I have painted over it more than once, most recently as a sign for a friend's wedding this past summer. 

I like the "deconstructed" look of the back of the canvas, and simply tacked a fall branch to it (sorry, blurry photo)

What is this? Well, it's a vintage beach chair that I turned into a beach-y towel rack some time back.

Sometimes when you need something for a certain area of the house, you just have to swipe something from another space, right?

I just covered over the beach print with a piece of an old canvas bag and placed one of my upcycled paper wreaths over it on a vintage hanger. 

{before. well, I mean after it was a chair}

When you are on the stairs, this is what you see out the upper window. At least for a bit longer, until all those beautiful leaves disappear!

This antique suitcase was a recent thrift store find. I'm still deciding if I'm keeping or selling.

At least for a little while it will look cute here on the landing ; )

I was able to add some much needed personality to this space {without spending any money} by using items I already had, and pulling in simple pieces from nature.

I only wish I'd done it sooner!

I'm so glad you came by today. Being able to share our home with you adds so much joy to every project! It just wouldn't be the same without you. 

Blessings-

Jeanette 

See you over at...

Be Inspired at Common Ground  

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 

Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo  

Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse

Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors  

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

The Scoop 

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at StoneGable 

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm 

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style