Here's a case in point.
A few weeks ago, I was driving through town when I noticed the most spectacular home.
It was a large white farmhouse, with black shutters and the most stunning white tulip wreath hanging on the front door.
It was so good, I had to turn around.
I'm not kidding. The view was that striking.
Plus, I was on my way to tend to my mom's flowers, so it was a nice diversion.
There's something wonderful about a house with great curb appeal. It's just more inviting. It says hello there you, come on in!!
And I love that.
Naturally, when I got home, I decided that my tiny white cottage, with black shutters, needed a fabulously inviting white tulip wreath, as well.
So I started shopping.
First, I looked to see what I could find pre-made. Etsy was the only place I could find ones that were truly outstanding. They were as full and fabulous as the one on my dreamy inspiration door.
They were also well over $100 each. So that was out.
I live in the northeast on an island that is prone to hurricanes, nor'easters and bomb cyclones. I also don't have any kind of covering or eave over my front door.
My house also gets full sun all day long. Things have a tendency to fade quickly and melt, as well.
So whatever I put out there has to be done so with the understanding that it might not last very long.
Oh I usually get at least one or two seasons out of my front door decor, but you really never know. And frankly I'm not in the habit of taking $100 decor risks.
I'm more of a made this for a three bucks kind of girl.
That's when I decided to DIY.
I started looking for faux tulips at all my favorite crafting haunts...Dollar Tree, Michaels, JoAnn. And guess what? They were pricey.
Once I grabbed my calculator and added up the glue sticks, the tulips and the wreath frame I'd need to make a really full, really big wreath, I was at almost $60. Yowza. That is not a bargain DIY.
Plus, it didn't even factor in my time.
I googled and googled looking for a cheaper or easier way to do it, including a very interesting method with specialty wreath boards and zips ties, but I couldn't really get the price down to anything I was willing to pay for supplies.
Remember, I'm all about cheap and easy and so far this project wasn't checking either box.
My only hope was to ride back by that house to see if I was missing something. Maybe I could get the look another way.
But no. It was all about those tulips. Tons of luscious, white tulips and greenery on a vine wreath.
Being as good a bargain shopper as I am a bargain crafter, I hit the internet again. Lo and behold, there it was.
I don't know why it didn't come up before, but I found my wreath at Target.
At first, I wasn't taken. The tulips looked cream and it didn't look full at all.
Then I read the reviews and checked their photos. Definitely worth a risk. Especially for the price. I couldn't make a wreath that cheap.
Not the one I was dreaming of anyway.
I figured I'd order it and if it needed a few extra blooms tucked in here and there. Fine. I do that all the time.
However, when it showed up, I found there was no need for that. At all.
It was fuller than expected, as white and bright as I'd hoped and larger than I thought it'd be...even though, I measured.
Just look at how big each tulip is!
Now it sits proudly on my front door.
I have hot pink hydrangeas in a black urn on the stoop and my green hedges are just starting to sprout.
It's perfectly charming and sits in such lovely contrast to my black door with its silver accents.
And while it might be a wreath covered in tulips, the official harbinger of spring, I think I'm going to leave it up there all summer long.
It really is that beautiful.
Besides, there are no rules in decorating.
And no one can make me take it down.
Well. No one besides Mother Nature.
But for tulips, I'm willing to put up a fight.
What's on your front door?
At first, I wasn't taken. The tulips looked cream and it didn't look full at all.
Then I read the reviews and checked their photos. Definitely worth a risk. Especially for the price. I couldn't make a wreath that cheap.
Not the one I was dreaming of anyway.
I figured I'd order it and if it needed a few extra blooms tucked in here and there. Fine. I do that all the time.
However, when it showed up, I found there was no need for that. At all.
It was fuller than expected, as white and bright as I'd hoped and larger than I thought it'd be...even though, I measured.
Just look at how big each tulip is!
Now it sits proudly on my front door.
I have hot pink hydrangeas in a black urn on the stoop and my green hedges are just starting to sprout.
It's perfectly charming and sits in such lovely contrast to my black door with its silver accents.
And while it might be a wreath covered in tulips, the official harbinger of spring, I think I'm going to leave it up there all summer long.
Besides, there are no rules in decorating.
And no one can make me take it down.
Well. No one besides Mother Nature.
But for tulips, I'm willing to put up a fight.
What's on your front door?
Wow that wreath is awesome and I love it on your black front door. I bet it looks great from the street. Great curb appeal. Happy Tuesday. Have a great day today. We are getting snow!!!! Ugh!!!! Nothing big or accumulating but snow!!! Ugh ugh!!! By the weekend it will be back to warm and sunny. Mother Nature can be so fickle with this weather. Have a great day. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris! I was happy I found it. And oh no…snow?? We get it sometimes in April, too. I’m hoping those clouds are all out of steam by the time they make it here. Stay warm!! xo
DeleteYay, you found a beautiful wreath Kim. It looks great on your front door and the price is great. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie! It was a great find for me. Have a sunny week!
DeleteIt is beautiful. I was hoping you would stand back and take a full-on pic of the front door and porch. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cate! That front yard is full sun all day long and tough to get a good photo of the whole area. One of these days I'll try again.
DeleteLove this! Such a pretty wreath!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Stacy!
DeleteKim, I am loving your wreath! And I saw it should stay up all summer, I am not one to follow rules either. Sometimes we just have to do what we love. And that is a mighty fine wreath with all of it's glorious fullness!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cara!! I say that now...and I have no intention of taking it down...unless of course, some other pretty wreath bats its eyes at me. Then I may have to pack it away. But we'll see!
DeleteThe wreath looks gorgeous! I don't blame you for deciding to leave it up all summer! I would too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Briana! I just hope it's not too rainy this season!
DeleteWow, Kim, that is really beautiful and looks very full. In person, I bet it is stunning on the black door. You could add a few flowers of another type and color and it would be perfect for a summer wreath as well. I have $ store flowers in wreath on front door for spring. I made it a couple of years ago and don't remember what it cost but when you add a lot of different types and colors it looks pretty good. Stay well..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteDollar store flowers are the best, Judy, I agree! I usually make my wreaths from them. This year, there were no white tulips. I was so disappointed. I could've made a wreath for a song...but this one is so beautiful, it really is a step up. Thanks so much and be well!! xo
DeleteOn my front door????? Yellow tulips in a bucket :-)
ReplyDeleteYours is beautiful!! Blessings, J
That sounds just delicious, J!! So happy and bright…and tulips, well, you know how I feel about that. ♥️
DeleteHi, Jaybird. Happy to see your comment to Kim... Happy Spring to you.
DeleteJudith
OOOOH! I love that!
ReplyDeleteI have nothing on my front door, because it got put in last Fall and still needs to be painted. I need to get that done, but we are supposed to get snow tomorrow, so it has to wait. Plus we need to decide what color. I love your black door, but our siding is dark gray, so we are actually thinking about white.. The tulip wreath wouldn't show up on that. :(
However, it's absolutely perfect on yours and I am jealous.
Mari, we were there for way too long!! I wanted a black door, so my husband painted ours, but it sat behind a glass door in full sun and the door warped!! Can you believe it? SO we got a new door and when he said what color and I said black...again...we hit a stalemate and our door sat unpainted for years! We finally compromised and got rid of the glass storm door. Only now, I'd love to paint the door a different color...something playful and bright...but when I say that out loud, he just laughs. I don't blame the poor guy-painting over black is no fun! And a white door with gray siding is very dramatic and look amazing with a colorful pop! One of my favorite curbside views!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteGreat wreath and a wonderful look! There are no decorating police (at least that I have heard of, lol) so you can do whatever pleases you! Hugs
Thank you, Terri and thank goodness! I think I break a lot of those so called decorating rules you read about it magazines. I'm glad no one is checking, or I'd be in big trouble. Hugs!!
DeleteThat is a beautiful wreath! Nothing on my front door. The condo association only always wreaths at Christmas time.
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny!! I know that a lot of places limit door decor. You more than make up for it with your fabulous interior decor!
DeleteYour wreath is stunning in your front door. I love the black and white! Your hydrangea is pretty, too....very welcoming!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ricki! I hope that hydrangea makes it. It’s really too early for that sweet thing around here, but the garden center had it outside so I took a chance. Fingers crossed!
DeleteAmazing! I know supplies to make an item can make it very expensive! Great find!
ReplyDeleteYes! They really can be and now so many crafty places nearby have discontinued their 40% off coupons. That's been kind of a game changer when it comes to faux flowers.
DeleteI love that wreath Kim, white tulips are my favorite flower! I'll have to do a drive by and check it out! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteHonk when you drive by, Susan!! I'll come out and wave.
DeleteI like it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI cut some pussy willow and placed them in a big pot. I added some fake pink flowers, they are small daisy like flowers. And a pink bow. I will have that on the front deck until I can start to set out my flowering pots.
Keep your ideas coming our way, you are so creative, I do love your ideas and have done many of them.
Carla
Thanks Carla! I love the sound of what you have on your porch. I potted some hydrangeas out there, but I hope it's not too early...maybe I should've considered faux, too!
DeleteIt's beautiful and sometimes you just can't DIY. Although, in a few weeks, spring flowers should be going on sale in the craft stores......
ReplyDeleteOh yes, you’re right…so they can make room for the Halloween pumpkins and Santas!! Haha…😉
DeleteSuch a fabulous look for your front door. It really pops. amazon has some realistic tulips. Love the hydrangeas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda!! Amazon has some great tulips...I've been considering them for my table!!
DeleteHi, Kim,
ReplyDeleteYour white tulip wreath looks fantastic on your black door. How do your hydrangeas stand up under the relentless summer sun?
Happy Spring,
Judith
Hi Judith! Thanks! I love the wreath...and so far the hydrangeas are doing well. Of course, I'm in the northeast and temps are still low and the sun isn't that strong. I think it'll be a wait and see. I'll keep you posted!!
DeleteKim. That is one stunning wreath!! You outdid yourself, my friend!!! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteStay safe, healthy and happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thanks Debbie. It was a lucky find. It's so hard to know what you're getting sometimes online. This was a happy surprise.
DeleteWow! That is really pretty even though I've never been a huge fan of tulips. As to what I have on my front door....nothing. It is beveled glass and pretty so I don't cover it up. I do have a sign hanging near the door that says COME SIT ON MY PORCH. On the side door, I don't usually put anything other than holiday decor...it also has glass panes at the top. I do have a metal "chicken" wreath-type thingie. We are all about chickens here in my small town!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love chickens. I'm a huge fan!! I have them all over my kitchen and all over my house.
DeleteOh my goodness, Kim, that white tulip wreath definitely does make a huge eye catching impact on your black door. I'm glad you found one at just the right price. So worth all the dreaming and scheming.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle! It really was a great find.
Delete