I've always had a thing for pretty fabric. Bold colors, sweet florals, checks, stripes. You name it. I just love the way the patterns bring a room to life. They add personality, charm and style...especially, when several of them are mixed together. That's my all time favorite look. It's a hallmark of cottage style design.

I wanted a kitchen sink skirt, but I didn't want to remove my cabinet doors. No tension rod or ring clips were going to stand up to my family's daily use. So I came up with a way to attach a sink skirt to the doors, without removing them or damaging them at all. I've always loved the look of a kitchen with a sink skirt. I think there's something so charming, so warm...so homey...about a room with fabric softening the hard line of wood cabinets. You just know there's someone with an apron roaming about. And a pie in the oven. Well, not my oven, but you get the idea.

I've been a homeowner and DIY decorator for a long time. A very, very long time. So you would think that by now, nearly 30 years in, I'd know that there's no such thing as making just one little change . Inevitably, that single update triggers a flurry of others. Most recently, I've been dealing with a decor avalanche in my ensuite bathroom. Although, I hesitate to use such a lofty term to describe my tiny space. It's literally the smallest room full bathroom on the planet, but in the land of 1920's beach cottages, where I live, a bedroom with a bathroom attached is not a standard feature. I'm very lucky to have one.

Here's how to organize the space under your kitchen sink and hide that icky garbage pail, when you don't have room for a fancy built in trash cabinet. It's an easy DIY and one you can accomplish in an about an hour. Whenever I embark on a new crafting journey or contemplate one of my house DIYs, I always, always consider the pretty . It's usually the driving force behind my makeovers, since I'm definitely a form over function girl. And unless I have absolutely no choice in the matter, or it's repair, like when the pipe burst under the kitchen sink , and I just needed the water to stop rushing onto my beautiful wood floor, it's always where I start planning. With that most important question... but how will it look? Well, in a complete and total reversal, when I started planning today's project, pretty never even entered my mind.

I found an old wooden planting box at the thrift store and gave it a quick makeover in minutes with a dollar store sticker. It's an easy DIY and makes a fabulous budget centerpiece for your next spring or summer celebration. Spring cleaning isn't usually my thing. I'm so excited to get back outside once the warm weather arrives, that I generally leave the scrubbing and organizing for fall . You know, when I'm back inside again readying myself for the holidays. And hibernation. It's just makes more sense, if you ask me. However, this spring, has been cold. And I have more time on my hands with my newly empty nest. So, as I mentioned a few days ago, I've decided this is the perfect time to go through my thrift stash and get busy making all those projects on my crafty wish list. Starting with this.

Ah April! I love this month. Flowers are beginning to bloom, the weather is starting to warm up. And my yard is filled with baby bunnies, egg filled nests and, on some very special days, a pair of ducks. My colorful calendar was a gift from the very thoughtful Kris at Junk Chic Cottage Lovely. Apparently, this year it's also the season of eclipses and earthquakes.

I turned a two dollar, unfinished wooden cutting board into a charming, cottage style kitchen decor accessory with rice paper. No fancy techniques or cutting machines needed...just a simple upcycle anyone can do in minutes. Several weeks ago, I shared my latest thrift store finds. Among them was an unfinished paddle style, wooden cutting board, that I grabbed for two bucks. To be honest, I don't think it was ever meant to be a working kitchen accessory. It wasn't made of butcher block or bamboo. It was a soft, white pine, that splintered a bit when I touched it. Clearly, no one was going to be preparing food on that surface.