I answer the common design question, “What can I put on my walls that isn’t art?”, my favorite product, my mini galette recipe, my DIY textured vase tutorial, and 5 great shelving options.

One of the biggest design questions, answered. What can I hang on my walls that isn’t art?

I get it, there are lots of options and thinking outside the box always creates an unexpected moment which I’m kind of here for. I have listed some options below that will hopefully inspire you and get you thinking about some things you may already have that are true gems.

Wall Hangings

I could literally find you 1000 images on wall hangings right now because they are so on trend, and although they have a boho vibe they can also be used in modern homes to add texture and soften hard lines. They range form itsy-bitsy to large scale and there is probably one for every design model and style.

Wood

Might sound strange but I have been known to use beach wood in lots of my designs, what about that time I hung a branch in the dining room and cut out all those kraft paper snowflakes at Christmas! Anyhoo, wood can bring nature inside and reminds us of adventures from our past. here they have strands of beads creating a little whimsy and it takes up less visual space than say a wall hanging.

Tapestries

There are lots of options here as well, and it doesn’t always mean Bohemian. This is a paint cloth with a charcoal drawing that fits this modern/rustic vibe.

Porcelain Wall

This may remind you of grandma, and hopefully that’s a good thing. You can add china in full scale or add a piece into a grouping for a more subtle reminder of the past or a loved one. It’s an unexpected twist to the gallery wall.

Clipped Art

I love this one because it reminds me of my father, who was an artist. I love the casual way it’s displayed and because it’s so simple it grabs your attention. This is definitely a minimalist option and going frameless never looked so good.

Children’s Art

I have always LOVED this and have several of my grown children’s pieces hanging in my house. I like to add them into my gallery wall or frame them next to bedside tables. Pick out some keepers and frame them up, it’s never too late!

Fabric Wall Hanging

Vintage rugs, quilts or blankets are perfect for this and create a thoughtful design , add texture and depending on where they are from may be a focal piece striking up conversations.

Cars

I mean I’ve seen crazier things, wait maybe not! When Dave asked what’s on the blog this week he shared this design which is in retired Formula 1 driver, Nelson Piquet’s home. How cool is that?

So, you don’t have to hang a car on your wall but try some groupings or some out of the box ideas that will transfer well to your space and bring thoughtful moments that people notice.

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Product Of The Week

Jam Jar

Wine can be a favorite product right? I was introduced to this a few years back and I loved it then, but kind of moved on with life and forgot how much I enjoyed it. While recently at World Market shopping for a client I picked one up. Unless I had tried it before I’m not sure I would be into a sweet shiraz, but this baby tastes so good chilled on a hot day, so don’t rule it out if you think it will be too sweet! At just $11.99 it’s a worth a try! Learn more here.

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Recipe Of The Week

Mini Blueberry and Blackberry Galettes

I made galette’s for our Father’s Day desert (and I also made the most amazing pasta, I will share that recipe with you next week!) and they turned out pretty well. I had to use gluten free flour due to my Hashimoto’s which is never quite the same when it comes to baking. If you can make this using the original recipe below it will be worth it. The folds of the pastry will be so much prettier with regular crust. I also would roll out the dough as thin as you can while still being able to fold it. Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream. I decided to start giving stars based on my always willing and helpful taste tester. Dave gives this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

(Stay tuned next for next week when I give you that awesome pasta recipe I talked about above)

Yield: 6

Author: Jen Adair (adapted from The Minimalist Baker)

Print

Mini Blueberry/Blackberry Galettes

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 35 MinTotal time: 50 Min

Ingredients

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour* (or substitute for GF flour)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 12 Tbsp cold vegan butter, (my current favorite is Miyoko’s, but Earth Balance also works // 1 ½ sticks yields 12 Tbsp or 168 g)
• 6 Tbsp ice cold water
• 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries*
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1 Tbsp organic cane sugar (plus more for topping)
• 1 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C) and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Also get out two large baking sheets.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour and salt. Cut butter into the flour until well blended using a pastry cutter or fork.
3. Add chilled water 1 Tbsp at a time and stir until the dough scrapes away from the bowl. This will depend on the flour you use, but usually requires around 4-5 Tbsp. If you add too much water, add more flour to compensate.
4. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Without overworking, form into a ball, then divide into four segments if making small galettes, or six segments if making mini galettes.
5. Working one at a time and adding more flour as needed, use a floured rolling pin to roll each piece of dough out into a rough circle. Use the rolling pin to carefully transfer to the baking sheets (you will need two depending on their size) by placing the rolling pin at one end of the dough and gently folding the dough over the rolling pin. Then lift, transfer, and fold the dough off of the rolling pin onto the baking sheet.
6. Add blueberries and blackberries to the dough bowl — no need to rinse it — and toss with sugar and cornstarch. Divide berries evenly among the pies, placing in the center of the dough.
7. Next, carefully fold the crust edges up, overlapping them as you go. Try to ensure no cracks remain or the fruit will seep out during baking.
8. Brush pies with a touch of water (or melted vegan butter) and sprinkle with organic cane or raw sugar to ensure a golden, crisp crust.
9. Bake for 20-28 minutes for mini galettes or 28-35 minutes for small galettes, or until the crust is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly. Serve warm with a scoop of vegan ice cream or coconut whipped cream.
10. Store leftovers loosely covered at room temperature up to 2-3 days, in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days, or in the freezer up to 1 month.

Notes:

*To make gluten-free, use your favorite flour blend. Gluten-free pies shouldn’t require as much water since they absorb the butter more easily. You may only need 1-3 Tbsp water instead of 4-6 Tbsp. Lastly, the edges don’t fold up as gracefully, so I simply used a butter knife coated in gluten-free flour and pushed the edges up to keep the filling contained.

*Use in-season fruits for best flavor — blueberries for summer and apples sautéed in cinnamon, vegan butter, and coconut sugar for fall.

Created using The Recipes Generator

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DIY Textured Vase Tutorial

Textured Vase Tutorial

I know you’ve seen them, they are everywhere from Target to West Elm and beyond. Textured vessels are all the rage. Most of them can be spendy but you can create the same look for next to nothing, and I’m going to show you how.

Here’s What You Will Need:

• A disposable bowl or dish

• Paint brush

• Baking soda

• Sponge (optional)

• Paint, I used FolkArt in Linen and Ivory White

Choose A Vase

I had an old Southern Living vase that just wouldn’t come clean and the style wasn’t really what I wanted any longer but the vase was in good shape and sturdy. Look around your home for things with great shape but maybe dated and give it a fresh new look. Goodwill is a great place to pick up glass vases or crocks which would be fun for this DIY. This vase is perfect for me as those green bumps once painted out will look like many on trend vessels I’ve seen all over Instagram. I’m giddy!

Mix It All Up

Add about half of each bottle of paint to your bowl and mix well. Then add in about 1 Tablespoon baking soda and stir. How much mixture you make will depend on the size of your vessel. I used a popsicle stick so I could toss it afterward making cleanup easy. You want your mix to be spreadable but also have some texture. I made two batches for my vase.

Get Started

I used brush strokes from the bottom to the top, making sure I had covered all the glass. This is only your first coat. Let this dry for 20’ish minutes and then apply a second coat. I let mine dry twice and then did a final touch-up and another dry.

You Did It!

You can be finished here or you can add some dimension using a sponge, some dirt from your yard and a little moss green paint. Mine is feeling a little more modern so I skipped this step but you could easily create that look as well. If you’d like to give it some old world charm like some of the Studio McGee vessels paint it clockwise or circular as if it was created on a potter’s wheel. On it’s last coat of paint take it outside and toss some dirt on it! Yes, really! Once it’s dry, brush off the dirt and violá you’ll have a beauty. Additionally, you can lightly sponge on some moss colored paint to create a beautiful patina.

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Organizing Tip: 5 Great Shelving Options

Some families deal with disarray in every room of their homes, and don't always know how to fix it. Need a simple, sure-fire fix, without adding on to your home? Think vertically with a shelving solution.

1. Kitchen: A common problem in kitchens is the lack of storage space for things like cookbooks and large appliances. Free standing shelving can often fit along a wall or in a corner. I used to have industrial shelving in my condo kitchen years ago, I loved how it looked like a professional kitchen and I styled it up to really shine, it can also act like a pantry, storing extra Pellegrino’s or paper goods.

2. Mudroom/Entryway: We recently talked about setting up a system in your entryway and additional shelving can really come in useful. Book bags, coats, umbrellas and sporting equipment can really pile up, creating clutter and making you late as your search for all the things you need. Whether it’s hooks, shelves, and nooks for pet supplies getting them organized in containers on shelves can really be helpful.

3. Den & Family Room: Get things up and off the floor and into a container. Whether it’s decor on a shelf, video game controllers or a functioning charging station for a family of devices, wall shelves can help you stay organized and make the room feel bigger because the clutter is no longer staring you in the face.

4. Bathroom: Wall mounted shelves come in so many finishes and styles, there is sure to be one that fits your decor. Bathrooms tend to clutter quickly with too many items out on the counter, wall shelves, and even corner shelves for small bathrooms can help you to keep things organized and looking great. If there are items you want to hide on the shelving just pop it in a decorative basket. I have a decorative shelf over a toilet in our guest bath, it has room spray, containers concealing overnight supplies, a candle, plant, etc., it’s pretty + practical.

5. Garage: Make room for two cars and maximize the wall space in your garage by using heavy duty steel shelving. Use systems like Elfa for lawn and garden tools and car cleaning supplies. It’s amazing how great a clean garage feels. Doesn’t everything seem better when we are organized?!

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HELP ME REACH 200 FOLLOWERS!

Make it stand out

I know I’m new to town and only 9 months into this thing but help me GROW! I’m so thankful for all the followers I currently have, you guys are really the best! But, I’d love to grow my following in order to bring you deals and discounts, so if you haven’t followed me yet click here to join me on this fun and hopefully inspiring journey!

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Have a super weekend! xoxo