Outside the Box

We are always looking for places to store things, aren't we? Here are some ideas that are a little outside the box - not your usual trunk or collection of baskets.

What a great way to store throw pillows and blankets, plus have them on display! Next time you're at the Flea Market grab an old crate and luggage stands and you're all set! This would be perfect for the foot of a bed or even in your living room for all those cold winter nights to have your blankets near by and not in the closet.

We love, love, love this one! This chippy, old antique iron chair is a great place to keep towels close by the shower for yourself or guests.

We love this for a kids bathroom - store away all those toys, bottles, cups and towels right where you can get to them. A curtain rod, lined wicker baskets and some curtain hooks make such a cute storage display.

All of us either have a crate, want a crate, or are kicking ourselves in the tail for not buying the last one we saw. Crates are usually a little pricey, but they last forever! Grab a crate, turn it on the side and stack it with your favorite books and magazines. Not only will it be convenient, but stylish too.

Allison is constantly looking for ways to store toys up off the floor. This is perfect. These are garden planters screwed to the wall and stacked full of toys - and you can see everything so your kids aren't dumping the whole thing out to get to that one little Happy Meal toy they are looking for :)

A perfect display, night stand and storage all in one great piece! These are old briefcases stacked together on table legs. You would need to screw each briefcase to the next one to prevent sliding. But this is an adorable storage idea for a bedroom or a living room!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Okay, we know it's a little early, but we LOVE fall!! It is our second favorite time of year, second to the Christmas season! We could make this blog post ten screens long, but we won't ;)

Fall decor is so warm and inviting. The colors are just gorgeous, and pumpkins somehow just seem to fill up our homes! You can use pumpkins, gourds, acorns, mums, moss and the list goes on and on. We usually start decorating our dining tables, entry ways, front doors and porches in October. Somehow, once College Football starts here in the South, we feel like it's Fall. Here are a few ideas we've put together for you guys. We hope you enjoy them and will incorporate them in your own home this year!

This is so simple to create - a white ceramic, pedestal vase filled with moss and one single pumpkin. This would be perfect on an end table or even as a centerpiece on the kitchen table.

This entry way is so inviting! Pumpkins of all colors, shapes and sizes stacked together to make a grand statement. This is perfectly paired with stenciled pumpkins and a gorgeous wreath.

We love this! So vintage, so farmhouse - you can find a chair like this anywhere! Maybe even on the side of the road :) Fill it with a few white pumpkins and you're all set.

We're pretty sure Allison will be recreating this one on her stairs this year! What a cool idea. Even if you can't find white pumpkins, head to Lowe's and grab up a few cans of white spray paint and get busy! This idea is adorable!

This is just beautiful! Grab an old wagon the next time you're at the Flea Market, stencil a few pumpkins with your choice of words, and pick up a berry garland at Hobby Lobby to make this beautiful entry way piece.

With the season of Fall we usually find we have a few more house guests around. This is a perfect welcome tray for their bed complete with their guest towels for their stay! This is sure to make them feel welcome in your home!

Apples, apples, apples - this is gorgeous and simple. What a beautiful centerpiece for the dining table! If you really want to make a statement, do three or four of these down the center of your table surrounded by all different size pillar candles. It will be the talk of dinner for sure!

This is a gorgeous arrangement for your entry table! You can find any old pedestal bowl around the hose, fill it with moss or straw and grab a bag of colored pumpkins and gourds at your local Farmer's Market to make this arrangement! Simple and easy is what we're all about.

Display Your Jewelry

Display your jewelry! It's too beautiful to hide away in a drawer!! Not only does it make it easier to find, it is a beautiful display of color and enables you to use any of those colors in your jewelry at different areas of your room.

If you have a traditional style when it  comes to your home, this is the perfect way for you to display your jewelry. Get different sized ornate frames, cover it with your favorite fabric or paper, and then attach some glass knobs across the top inside of each frame. This will not only be simple to make, but be beautiful as well!

This is my favorite way to display my own jewelry. You can buy these jewelry holders at Marshall's or TJ Maxx pretty inexpensively. Fill them up and they'll make their own statement!

This was a great creation by a blog "friend" of mine Liz Marie. She is so creative! Grab a wooden board, cover it in fabric, drill in your favorite hardware and hang your earrings. Such a cute idea! Thanks Liz!

Just another jewelry display board similar to the one above.

Alphabet Walls for a Nursery or Playroom

Decorating a nursery is one of the most fun rooms to decorate in my opinion! I've done two very different nurseries over the years in my own home. My biggest dilemma was always the decor. You want it to be "baby", but not TOO "baby"! So here are a few ways to display your ABC's on a focal wall!

I love this idea. You can get this look with boxed ABC flash cards cut with a scalloped scrapbook cutter, then paint the edges with a light brown paint to get the aged look. Paint a solid wood board or a canvas the color that goes with your room and tack them on with tack nails! Simple, easy and adorable!

A hodge podge of letters! I love this. Be creative ~ a traffic light sign as the I, a nautical life ring as the O and a decorative cross as the T. Great ideas with this one!!

Another nautical life ring, AND the world globe as the W! Think outside the box for a dramatic wall!

These antique flash cards are a great way to display the ABC's in individual frames. This is a great, inexpensive way to make a statement in a child's room or playroom. 

Find these ABC flash cards on etsy to get started on your own wall today!

Photos courtesy of divinedistractions.blogspot, mekhart.blogspot, shabbynest.blogspot and gallery.projectnursery.

Display the Ones You Love

No matter who you are, where you come from or where you're going - you have family and friends who share in your journey of life! Looking around my own home, it is covered up with pictures of family members, kids and friends! I'm always looking for ways outside the design box to do things. Here are a few great ways to display the ones you love...

An old window pane is a great vintage style approach to show off your favorite moments! You can get an old window pane from any thrift store, flea market or antique store. Chances are you won't have to do a thing but add your favorite photos and a wire for hanging and you're done!

Another window option! I LOVE this one! We are actually using this idea for a gift table at our next wedding. What a beautiful way to showcase your love and be able to use it again in your own home!

This entryway is just beautiful! From the floors, to the wall color, to the accessories, down to the family photos. This is a beautiful way to make a statement of what matters most at the entrance of your home! Use collage photo frames mixed with other single frame sizes to get this look and space each frame about 2 inches apart!

This is a beautiful way to display not only family photos, but artwork, letters and numbers as well. Who says you can mix all these fantastic pieces together to make one awesome focal wall?!?

What are you doing?!? Don't just sit there waiting on the next Charming Cottage post!! Get busy displaying the ones you love most using these great tips and inspiration ideas!

Great Bedding

Ask anyone I know, and they'll tell you that I'm addicted to bedding! I change my bedding every 4 to 6 months to get a fresh look in the master bedroom. So, I've put together this post to help guide some of you in the right direction to help you choose the perfect bedding for your space.

I personally love this bedding, Wells Palampore from Pottery Barn. I am currently using it in my master bedroom. It is light weight for summer and the colors are so neutral and inviting. It looks great with warm rust colored walls, or even a dark chocolate wall with some cream antique furniture.

This bedding is from the new fall collection for Pottery Barn. The Josie Kalamkari bedding line has great texture and beautiful colors. This would look perfect with caramel or ivory colored walls and simple cherry furniture.

This Nimbus Duvet Cover from Anthropologie is breathtaking! The details of the ruffles are just beautiful! This bedding would be perfect with a painted cream iron bed or even a brass bed, paired with Robins Egg Blue walls, or even a rich cream color on the walls. The accessory possibilities with a bedding this beautiful are endless!

Pink ruffles!! Ok, ladies - if you can convince your hubby to use this one, props to you! My husband would never go for this!! So, for all you single ladies, this one is for you. This Waterfall Ruffle Duvet Cover from Urban Outfitters would be beautiful with some gray walls and a pewter tone iron bed. Mix it with some gray and off-white throw pillows and you'll have the perfect start to your new bedroom!