• how to install a barn beam mantel
    Blog,  Decorating,  DIY

    Simple European Farmhouse Barn Beam Fireplace Mantel Makeover

    Transitioning our traditional mantel to a European style barn beam fireplace mantel has had one of the largest impacts on our living room. It’s been a long time coming, but we finally did it! We finished the barn beam fireplace mantel in our living room. It only took us 9 months since starting the planning phase of this project to come full circle. But I guess that’s real life huh? You can watch the YouTube video of me sharing about our new mantel here. Things happen, and before you know it, you’re slowed down. But what I try to keep in the forefront of my mind when things like this…

  • thrifty decor for the home
    Blog,  Decorating,  Lifestyle

    Thrifty Garage Sale Cottage Decor | Decorating on a Budget

    One of the best ways to add European farmhouse style to your home and save money is to use garage sale cottage decor as much as possible. It’s garage sale season which is one of my favorite times of year. The great prices you find at thrift stores never seem to compare to the prices I pay for the treasures I find at a garage sale. So today I thought I’d share some of the tips I’ve learned over the years about garage sale shopping. I also thought it would be fun to show you how I styled all the garage sale cottage decor I picked up over the past…

  • can you paint over chalk paint without sanding
    Blog,  DIY

    How to Paint Over Chalk Paint | No Sanding – Beautiful Results

    Chalk-painted furniture is everywhere; but don’t be afraid to give it new life, because it’s easier than you think to paint over chalk paint. Not too long ago, everything was being painted with chalk paint. So knowing how to paint over chalk paint is something I needed to learn in order to continue to transform our home. The best part about it, is that it’s so much easier than I ever imagined! Watch me complete this DIY on YouTube You can check out the Meet Me page to get to know me a bit more and find out what we’re about here at Open Doors Open Hearts. Seriously, I’ve had…

  • European farmhouse kitchen design
    Blog,  Decorating

    Simple & Functional European Farmhouse Style Kitchen Decor Ideas

    Functional decor in the kitchen is a top priority for me; which is why I’m excited to share some European farmhouse style kitchen ideas. Of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen has to be the most organized and functional for me. It’s the heart of the home, yes. But it’s also the workhorse. With all the goals we set for 2023, the kitchen is putting in double duty these days. So, I’ve been trying to wrack my brain to figure out a few ways that I can increase the storage and functionality of our kitchen area. You can watch me decorate the kitchen on YouTube I’m so excited…

  • European cottage living room decor
    Blog,  Decorating

    10 Simple & Thrifty Summer Living Room Ideas | European Cottage

    Summer is right around the corner and I’m so excited to show you how I added thrifty Summer living room decor to our living room. There are some affiliate links below,  which means I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used. For my full disclosure statement click here To watch the video head over to YouTube and see how I transition our living room for Summer. I feel like this goes without saying, but Summer home decor has to be simple and easy. The summer months are too busy with…

  • cafe curtains without sewing
    Blog,  DIY

    How to DIY No Sew Cafe Curtains | 2 Beautiful Options

    If you’re looking to add cottage charm to your home with curtains then this DIY no sew cafe curtain tutorial will be perfect for you! Lately, I’ve been doing all kinds of things to our main living space to try to give our home a little bit of the change I’ve been craving. So many of the projects we’ve done over the years have been wonderful, but we still have so many to go. You can watch the video of me making these curtains on YouTube if you’d like. My Favorite DIY Projects Over the Years Pot RackOpen ShelvesWooden Peg RailLimewash Paint StoneLighten Stained Wood Curtains probably should have been…

  • anthropology mirror diiy
    Blog,  DIY

    How To DIY Antique Mirror Frame With Gilding Wax

    This mirror was $20 at a garage sale and I’m excited to show you this DIY antique mirror frame project that made this frame look vintage. In my Spring entryway post, I told you I’ve been craving some changes in this space, but I also said that it’s not on the schedule to do a full makeover right now. So since I wanted some change I thought I’d do a couple of inexpensive cottage-style updates. In my mind, even if we don’t do the big makeover I dream about, these little upgrades can have big impacts. To start, I decided to give the black framed mirror in the entryway a…

  • Spring asymmetrical wreath DIY
    Blog,  Decorating,  DIY

    How to Make An Asymmetrical Spring Wreath For Front Door

    Today I’m excited to share more inspiration with you from our entryway. I put together an asymmetrical Spring wreath that is so easy to make! There are some affiliate links below,  which means I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used. For my full disclosure statement click here Last week I shared our entryway all decorated for Spring. If you missed that you can check it out HERE. This week I decided to continue working on the entryway by making this asymmetrical Spring wreath DIY. I had a lot of…

  • European cottage spring entryway decor
    Blog,  Decorating

    10 Simple and Thrifty Spring Entryway Decor Ideas

    Spring is fast approaching, so today I want to share some of my favorite affordable tips for Spring entryway decor with cottage style. There are some affiliate links below,  which means I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used. For my full disclosure statement click here Spring Entryway Decor| YouTube Video I feel like I’ve been in such a funk lately. But now that the sun is shining more I feel excited about the things we plan on doing this Spring and Summer. We have so many fun ideas for…

  • food from scratch
    Blog,  Lifestyle,  Open Heart Messages

    2023 Homemaking Goals: Growing, Preserving, and Cooking Food from Scratch

    Our goals for 2023 are about food from scratch: growing, preserving, and cooking it. And it’s for so much more than being a healthier weight. So a few weeks ago I shared a YouTube video and told you I wanted to share our goals for 2023. Now if I’m being perfectly honest I’m a little scared. (Which is why it’s taken me a month to actually do it haha.) Our goals for 2023 are HUGE, and I need to be clear about one thing before we go anything further. I’m certain we will fail in attaining our goals for 2023 perfectly. If you’d like to watch the YouTube video I…