Welcome to Funky Junk’s 2015 summer home junk tour!
Those coming from Ella Claire, welcome!
25 blogs have banded together for Shabby Creek Cottage’s annual tour, so you are in for a treat!
I’m Day 3 / Stop 4, so you can start at Day 1 / Stop 1 here at Gina’s place, or visit everyone below this post.
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To avoid repeats, this post represents just new changes from my 2014 Summer Home Tour HERE. So catch up there first… It’s massive… 🙂
Let’s go!
When I said yes to this summer tour, I knew it would be a challenge.
I’ve been busy gearing up for The Olde Farmhouse vintage market this weekend, and lemme tell ya, you don’t take the time to clean your house much when you are creating!
Find how I make my signs with Old Sign Stencils HERE.
So… I gave myself ONE day to clean and decorate, and one day to take pictures. That’s it!
I will say this… I didn’t need to go to Zumba those two days. It was quite a workout! It’s been awhile since I did any deep cleaning.
Similar coffee sign tutorial HERE and coffee crate lid sign HERE.
And then one thing led to another… what fun is a home tour if it’s just a cleaned up version of what it already was? I haven’t had time to do much to the house lately.
So I went through my big pile of who knows what and came up with a fab plan… I’d showcase all my new stuff I recently picked up for the market!
It was like Christmas morning. Out everything came… and up it went!
But then… something happened…
I fell in love with everything exactly where I put it.
#oops
Salvaged farmhouse bathroom tour
Even my repurposed shutter shelf is so, so happy with the colourful summer changes of painted books and Pepsi Cola flowers!
After the house was decked out, I stood back.. and wondered why I don’t do this sort of thing more for myself.
I mean… it felt like I had a brand new home. And all I really did was clean it and add a few new things!
And that’s when I was wondering how on earth I’d be able to let go of the new changes for the market… when the voice of reason stepped in.
Fresh and dried hydrangea post
“JUST GET / MAKE MORE.”
He’s such a wise one. 🙂
But then this happened…
An old sign gallery down my crate stairway…
This. THIS is me!
For those not in the know, I’m a sign fanatic by trade, been making them for 20+ years. But most recently came out with an Old Sign Stencils line you can see HERE. And these guys are going to the market.
Or so I thought? haha (wimper…)
I hung up every old sign I made.
And I loved the look.
No two are exactly alike. Such personalities! Some are arrows that help guide the way…
… and some just wanting to be friendly and hold out flowers to you. Awww… 😀
And then there are some, encouraging you to go big and bold with apple red!
I tend to be a woodsy person, so this punch of barn red on the Apple Farm sign (post here) was a little out there for me.
But… it’s true. I can make this stuff again. I’ll keep mumbling that while I take it all down knowing I’ll have nice clean walls to paint first then, right?!
So how about a little tour of the more recent changes I’ve done to my home not included in the last tour?
This crazy little cupboard turned paint cart resides in my photo studio. It’s where I do most of my photography for stencilling, so I needed a funky little companion on wheels to help out.
But this isn’t the only place I create. You’re about to see two others. When I challenged myself to revamp some areas in January, I chose all the places I made stuff first.
So glad I did! It really made a difference in my productivity.
Welcome to my dream workshop! Residing in a single car garage.
Most of what you see was found on the curb, or I made it with wood scraps.
Pallet hammer workshop storage
Ammunition crate workshop storage
Enhanced pallet workshop storage
In other words… FREE. 🙂
This little Route 66 pallet cupboard helps keep my safety glasses dust free.
This metal wood organizer was found in front of a dumpster. It was like the heavens parted with this amazing gift… whatever it was!
The walls were painted bright white, and with all the colours and elements that are me to a T, it’s a very inspiring place to play!
I also work under the overhang at the front of the house, so I don’t have to breathe in all the sawdust. Love the outdoors!
One day I’d love to build an overhang facing my back yard so I can take in the mountain view… and not have my neighbours have to look at my mess. 🙂
And next up, my paint studio! (click to see the ACK before)
This was a (kinda horrible) little space down in my basement. It use to be my signmaking area, but I now had a new need for a dust free painting area with the stencils.
It’s just a tiny hallway space in between two rooms… the one through the doors is the photo studio.
But after working it over, it sure told me what could become out of nothing.
You cut tree farm sign tutorial
This space is also connected to a larger area that houses all my decor and photography props.
Floor to ceiling storage of junk… yummy. 🙂
Laundry Room funky wall treatment tutorial
One day I may even finish the laundry room. But this was a great start!
The sign is from my parents’ farm. Isn’t it a beauty?
May is considered early for being ready for summer outdoors in my area. I’ve yet to plant one thing. But thank goodness for perennials, right?!
Here’s what it WILL look like… soon. 🙂
Pallet double wide chair – my #1 runaway hit!
And one last stop… the patio. I live here in the summer when it’s warm enough.
Nothing pleases me more than to grab a good book on a hot summer night, flick on the propane fire pit and enjoy the peace. Or start my day here with my first coffee, listening to the birds belt out their first song.
Branch ladder flower stand tutorial
And that’s a wrap! Thanks so much for your visit, and I hope you enjoyed my junky little tour! There’s SO MUCH MORE to do so I hope you stay in touch!
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How to stay in touch
If decorating with junk is your thing, feel free to follow along at:
And here is where to find my stencil store with many new designs and projects coming soon!
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Next up on the tour… the fabulous
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Friday, May 29th
You make junk look soooo good! Your signs are so awesome! I never tire of the farmer’s market!
Your home is AH-MAZING! I just love all of those signs…and those stairs! Awesome job!!!
Donna….When I opened your post and saw the first couple of photos, I had to head to my coffee pot to grab another cup of coffee as I knew that I would be spending a lot of time enjoying each magnificent pic of your home. I am always in awe of your creativity and sense of style. Each and every room, every inch of your home is sheer eye candy. Thanks for the beautiful summer tour!…So enjoyed it!
taking the tour, I never realized how many things of yours I loved before I knew it was yours, like the bathroom, I think that was the first time I saw your site, still in love with it.
I’d have such a hard time parting with any of your creations, but it’s good to know you can always make more. I love how you organized your home tour, a perfect showcase for all your fabulous projects!!
Love your summer home, Donna … well, actually, I love your home during “any” season! You have a gift for creating such personality with your pieces, vignettes and fabulous creations! Your sign gallery on the staircase is awesome, and I love your shutter shelf!
Loved the tour. I can relate about the projects taking over. I live by the motto, CREATIVE MINDS ARE SELDOM TIDY! My kitchen counters are always cluttered with projects. When they’re clean it drives me crazy because I feel like I should be making something!
Donna your house looks amazing….and SPARKLING CLEAN!!!!!! Christine from Little Brags
I love your kitchen. I’ve followed you for awhile but I don’t ever remember seeing a full view before. The flowers really make it look like summer!
AMAZING!! Love al the details, and the fresh flowers paired with all the distressed wood 🙂 Most of all I think I’m moving into your sweet little shed 🙂 HA! XO
I love your tour! Your home and projects are so creative! Wow, your white ladder in your bathroom is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Did you make it or was it a vintage find? So, glad to have connected with you via Shabby Creek Cottage!
I love it all, but you take all that stuff to market and sell it. Now that you know you like the look of the stuff you created, you can just create more to keep.
Wow, you really have a lot of signs…
Haha, yes I do! But only because of the upcoming market. 🙂
Hello from West Kelowna, how could I have not seen your blog until now! Will be back here to see your wonderful space time and time again! BTW..the thrifting is amazing up here..(secret is now out)
Xo
Dagmar
Gosh Donna…I am just head-over-heels in lurve with your home! It’s sooooo beautiful, but the kind of warm beauty that invites you to sit and stay and to touch and to truly relax and enjoy! I’m not a fan of sterile and cold beauty that slaps your hand if you go to reach out and touch it…the sort that you are afraid to kick your feet up in. Your sweet, homey abode is perfection, in my eyes! Heck, I’d even live in your shed! 🙂 Thank you so very much for sharing your home with us and all of the work that went into making it such an accessible beauty…you should be very proud to call it your home!
It is official – you are the most clever girl in all of blogland! I love your home and your creative ideas!
Love, love, love it. I’m moving in tomorrow Donna, just a heads up, lol. Every inch of your place is right up my alley, darling. Don’t take those signs down, make some more for the festival or whatever it was called, Sorry i forgot the name, i’m jealous that i can’t even come to that. Anyway the signs look way too cute. They were made for that space. Keep on junkin ! ( = <3
I am having serious little red bench envy from the kitchen, but the sign gallery got me right in the heart! And I have to agree, we live in our homes every day and we should treat ourselves to the little things that give us joy at the site of them. So very glad you took the time from creating to share!
Haha, I LOVE the square red bench so much. And guess what… it’s staying! I was taking things down for the market but I had to leave the bench right where it was. That’s my gift to myself for having to clean the house… LOL
Hello, love your site and home. Always enjoy stopping by. Your pictures are so crisp and clear wondering what type/make/model of camera you use. In the market. Thanks for always an enjoyable visit over coffee from the east coast.
Thanks Brenda!
I currently have a Nikon D800 full frame. All the shots are taken on a tripod which helps a great deal for clarity and allowing more light in.
So glad you joined me for coffee today! 🙂
your home looks awesome, donna! i love the touches of red in the kitchen. my 8 year old daughter was sitting here with me as i was scrolling and she loves it, too, and loved how you used “old things hung on the wall” and then my kids started walking around looking at all the old things hung on our walls, too. i love that they can appreciate it and recognize it in other homes- i told them that all of those old things are full of so much soul and character. anyhow, i am rambling but your home looks lovely! 🙂
All so inspirational especially the stairs!
Your house is so much fun! I love all of the signs and I adore the shed! I think I’d be very happy living in it, it’s that cute!
What an amazingly creative home!!! LOVE your style, Donna! Just keep all your great ideas coming!!!!
Madly in love with your style, I was so happy to read down the list of summer tours and see your name! 😀
You have the most amazing home and I feel like every time I look at a photo I find something new. It was difficult not to pin every image on here, haha.
LOve, Love, Love the single pop of color in each room. If the garden shed is missing one day, it’s in my yard in Michigan.
Hi Donna
First your home is amazing – I love everything about it. Usually I look at a few pictures, but I looked at everything on your blog and wished there were more pictures.
Second I love your signs – I love how you hang flowers from them – it looks so pretty.
I will be ordering some of your stencils – as I went through your store it gave me so many great ideas for Christmas next year.
Have a wonderful Sunday
Much love,
Rose
I copied your “Most Kool” idea for the bathroom and EVERYONE loves it….I even did all the work myself…quiet proud…wanted you to know you’re my role model…Ha…I live in North Carolina.
I absolutely love your creativity I am unwell at the moment I am suffering from “junkenvy” I had hoped there was a cure and I think I have just found it on your site. Fabulous is the best word I can use. Thankyou for sharing xxxx
First, I am not about buying matching “sets”. I also don’t have the money, time or energy to find an inspiration piece, and then search endlessly for the matching throw pillows and area rug. I decided on blue & white theme for my bath…and now when I look at my very bold blue & white paisley shower curtain that I can’t find the right blue bath mats and hand towels to match, I am like, what were you thinking?
Second, if I find something I love, be it seasonal or something my kid made in school, I want to be able to in cooperate it into my home and not worrying about it “matching”.
I love flea markets, clearance sales, old pieces, hand me downs, and if in a store- unique things that mean something to me.
The problem is how I do this. Then I found you. I love everything about your décor. I also like farmhouse, which I do get that vibe from you as well. The one thing I notice is, most of the spaces that I love-like yours- are very “light and white”. I also read a décor article that says why white & bright clashes with earthy muddy colors. I have oak doors, cabinets and wood trim all through my house & would rather work with it,than paint it. My flooring is mainly tan. My living room furniture is tan, family room brown leather. My fireplace is an orange-salmon color ( this I may break down & paint) Despite my earthy colors, I think I can work around this.
I notice you either don’t have curtains-a girl after my heart- or where you do, they are white. Your towels are white. Your bedding is white. Your bath area rug is a neutral tan. Your color comes from your stuff- I hate to call it junk. This is where I need to be. I am not sure what paint colors you use.
So my questions, to make this work….what paint colors for the walls do you use? I am not doing well picking wall colors that are neutral-maybe the undertones clashing with the warm woodwork. And, am I correct in thinking, anything that stays for a while, home textiles remain white or neutral? Then add the stuff?
Hi Michelle!
You nailed me… my mantra of late is wood, white with black accents and a shot of green plants here and there. It’s a very neutral, clean look that I am loving.
My current wall colour is called Bamboo Beach by Cloverdale Paint in Canada, however I am changing that and going straight white out of the can! I tried to change the colour to a greige but cannot find the one I love. So I went all out white and LOVE it! Crazy but it’s working. It looks even better if you add a board and batten treatment so your walls look boarded.
To get the look you love, try pinning plenty of photos to Pinterest to collect your look, then use that for your inspiration to just do it!
And I personally don’t think whites clash with muddy colours at all. It’s about the clear contrast between the two. A crisp white wall will make nearly any other colour or tone pop I’d think.
And if you run into issues getting the look you love with your current oak, you could always change the tone / darken it / paint it. Lots of options!
You’re right about traditional curtains, I don’t have them because my cats shed on them. LOL I just prefer no curtains in some rooms (let that sun shine in!) or funky window treatments in others, but I never sacrifice a good sun beam. Everything remains wide open.
Here’s a post on how my own orangey fireplace was changed… https://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2010/02/creating-old-world-stone-fireplace.html