I just wanted to post today on some ways to use non traditional items to decorate your home.  As a lot of you know I love things that are old, chippy and have history and love to incorporate them into my home.  These are some pictures of old  things I have used in my home to decorate.


Taking old shutters and an old arch window for a focal point over the sofa. I love that these things reflect a cottage feel and still have a lot of history to them.
I love to use old doors around my house. I use this one in my entry way  also used an old shutter to hang my vintage bird house on in the entry way. Don't you love the mail slot in that old door.  

I used these old vintage doors and knobs to make a head board in my bedroom



Little vintage door to hang in the entry of my guest room for my sweet angel to hang.
These were old sidelights out of an old cottage. Don't you love the mail slot in the sidelight. I used one on each side of the entry into my dining room from the kitchen.
As you can see I have a little door thing going on and use them a lot in my home. This chippy one I use in my mud/laundry room



Staying with the old door theme. This old horse barn door is hanging in my dining room. I love the chippyness to this piece.








Old vintage suit cases used in my bedroom for a chair side table.


This is one of my favorite things to do. Make headboards out of old gates. I love the chippy vintage feel they give.
I have two twin beds in my one guest room so I was lucky to have found a couple of old vintage gates at the flea market.




An old wooden garden gate for over my guest room bed as a headboard.





Also loved using an old gate over my desk in my office. It is a nice vintage visual piece and I love that I can hang things all over this.






Using an old chicken wire dress form. This is one of my favorite pieces the stand is from the old Hilton Hotel in Chicago and the dress form was made out of old chicken wire. I love to hang things all over this in my office too.

Old vintage mailboxes make great storage bins and also holders for  magazines.
This old section of kitchen cabinets was thrown out and I repurposed it in my office for storage.  The guy that was rehabbing the old house said I could have these "old ugly" cabinets. "Old and Ugly" I thought to myself how about chippy and wonderful!!!!!





Old vintage piece of ladder to hang baskets from and also chippy old washboards for cabinet doors in the laundry room.
 
As some of you have seen my vintage bike that I move around my house and above the bike is an old twin headboard that was made into a hanger and black board.  I am so in love with this bike it just makes me smile wherever I put it.
Old bed frame, old windows and old doors are all part of the decor in my dining room.





I loved using these old door knobs and plates as door pulls for my kitchen cabinets.
 
Old weathered watering can and old chippy window for decor. I also love using old vintage birdhouses.  I am a big flower gardener and use a lot of old chippy pieces in my garden. I love having old pieces in the garden that bring as much beauty as the flowers do.  I love bringing a little bit of the outside inside for all year round.

A big old chippy martin house.



Old vintage posts make such great accent pieces.

Old posts around my kitchen window just for some fun and character



Sharing with Sherry and her Thursday's Open House party
Sharing with the lovely Pamela and her Treasure Hunt Thursday Party
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/
Sharing with http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/that-diy-party/
Sharing with Becky   http://www.timewashed.com/2013/03/blissful-whites-wednesday_19




70 comments

  1. I feel like I have just gone through an enormous pile of my favorite magazines and gotten inspiration on every single page! Seriously. So many fabulous ideas. You have a wonderful talent! So glad you have a blog to share it all on!

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    1. Wow Jacqueline,
      Coming from you the queen of chic that is such a compliment. Thank you. Glad you came by and thanks so much for always being so sweet. I wish I had your camera and photo abilities. I always love your photo's on your blog.
      Kris

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    2. Amen to that Jacqueline....which one do I pin for goodness sake...ok..all of them!Yay!

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  2. Oh, my goodness. I do not even know where to start. You have given me so much inspiration.
    One of my favorite things was the chicken-wire dress-form . . . you are amazingly creative :)
    Love, love, love your charming home.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    1. Thanks Connie glad you came by my friend. I do love that chicken wire dress form too. I love that the pole and hanger actually came from the old downtown Hilton in Chicago. Thanks so much for always being so kind.
      Kris

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  3. Kris,
    What a great assortment of doors. And I love the idea of wash boards as doors. Loved having a look around, thanks for the tour:)

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    1. Hi Dawn,
      Thanks so much. I love those little wash boards for cabinet doors too. Glad you came by hope you are having a great week end.
      Kris

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  4. OMG - I just A-DOOR-ED this post Kris.............
    What amazing details you have put into your home - the bedspreads on the twin beds are stunning - I'd love them for my bedroom - I can't even pick favorites here - not fair lol
    Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous!
    XOX

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    1. Thanks so much Suzan. I found those ruffled white bedspreads at Home Goods last summer and loved them so much I put them on all my beds. I had to hunt to find queen, twins and king size but I had a mission and found them all. Now if I could just keep my basset hound off of our bed!!!!!! The nice thing is they wash easily. Hope you are having a great week end.
      Kris

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  5. Everything is beautiful! My favorite is the door with the mail slot.

    Blessings,
    Amy Jo

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    1. Hi Amy Jo,
      Thanks for coming by. I love the old mail slot in the door too. Have a great week end.
      Kris

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  6. I just love the old gates used as headboards. I had a large gate from my old neighbor's driveway, but off it went to one of our daughters' homes! You are the queen of repurposing, and it all works so well in your home!

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    1. Well hello Vickie. I bet with working so much you were loving seeing the week end come. Ha about those daughters. I have two and the one is always taking my cute stuff like that too. She uses that beautiful grandbaby to lure me in and I get distracted and she nabs stuff!!!!!! I love to repurpose. Hope you are enjoying the week end.
      Kris

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  7. I just love all of your old chippy pieces and how you dispayed them!!
    hugs,
    Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy,
      Thanks so much. Hope all is well with you. I am hoping later to get on my dashboard and see what everyone is up too these days. My youngest daughter just got a job in our area that she starts on Monday so she is moving into our empty nest for a few months until she can find a place of her own so I have been so busy with helping her move back in have not had my blog time!!!!!! Thanks so much for being sweet and coming by.
      Kris

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  8. Kris, you have too many pretty pieces to count!! You should definitely be in Romantic Homes magazine! All of your decor is so inspiring to those of us that love worn and chippy. Thanks for the tour!

    XO,
    Jane

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    1. Hello Jane,
      Nice to hear from you. Thanks for saying the nice comment about being in a magazine!! That would be really nice someday but not sure about that. I just love to get the comments back from you sweet bloggers to let me know I am doing this right!!!! That means a lot to me. Thanks for always being so kind. I am going to try and plan a blogger girls night at my house this summer so when I get that together I will let you know. Drinks, yummy food and us girls meeting face to face and hopefully sitting outside on the deck. Ohhhh how I wish it were summer. I need my flower garden fix and to be working outside. Have a great rest of the week end.
      Kris

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  9. Thanks for sharing all the great ideas from your beautiful home. You are so creative in re-purposing and incorporating fabulous vintage pieces in such unique ways. Love it! Keep inspiring us!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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    1. Hi Patti,
      Thanks for coming by with your sweet comments. I appreciate it so much. I do love to repurpose old chippy things. I just have a thing about stuff with history!!!! Thanks for coming by hope you have a great rest of the week end. I am hoping to get onto my blogs tonight to see what everyone is up too. I will be visiting you soon.
      Kris

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  10. Hello and thank you for sharing your home with us...it is gorgeous!!!!!
    Love everything I cannot even pick a favorite
    Enjoy your weekend!!!!
    Suzann ~xoxo~

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  11. Oh Kris, what a luvly post. I luv your decor. I do not have all white decor in my home, but some how, I really, really luv it in yours!! I want to go back and drool over the pictures :-) Psssttt... I have many times before , just saying.
    I am so crushing on all the chippy bits!! The doors... posts, sigh.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs, Gee

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    1. Well Hello there Gee. How are you? Thanks for stopping by and always thanks for your sweet comments. Hope you are having a great week end. I am hoping to get on my blogs tonight and see what everyone is up too.
      Kris

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  12. Kris, I love your home! I want to live in your home. Of all your beautiful old treasures, I think the doors and gates used as headboards are my favorite. Thanks for such wonderful inspiration! Hugs, Debi

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    1. Thanks so much Debi. I do love to use those old gates as headboards. Thanks for your sweet comments. Have a great rest of the week end.
      Kris

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  13. Hi Kris! I love getting to see all of your individual decorative pieces "up close and personal"! Great idea for a post! You have so many wonderful ideas! I can't get over what some people think is ugly and trash! Happy St Patrick's Day! Hugs, Leena

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    1. Well Hello my friend. Hope you are doing well. I know about the guy saying ugly some people just do not get it. I am glad he did not get it because he gave me them for free!!!! Ha Ha!!! He did not realize I would have paid money for that chippy cabinet!!! Hope you are having a great week end.
      Kris

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  14. Kris, I simply adore every single square inch of your home! It is beyond marvelous and I can never get enough pictures!! You are most definitely talented!!
    Hope you are enjoying the weekend as well.

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    1. Roxanne,
      You are the sweetest and make me feel so good about my decor ideas. I love this but was not sure others would share my love of old chippy things for decor. Thanks always for your sweet comments.
      Kris

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  15. You have the most fabulous old and wonderful doors, Kris!! I'm wanting those sidelight doors with the mail slot. LOVE how you're using them at the entrance to your dining room.
    Mary Alice

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    1. Hi Mary Alice,
      I wish you lived closer because I have a great little place that has a lot of salvage stuff like these. Old and Chippy heaven. You would love it. Hope you are having a great week end.
      Kris

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  16. Great ideas, Kris! Love the shutters around that window and the sidelight with the mail slot. That's a great idea to use them at the doorway between rooms.

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    1. Hi Kathy,
      Thanks so much. I fell in love with those side lights the minute I spotted them. Hope you are having a great week end.
      Kris

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  17. `your chippy displays are so very pretty, kris:) such a cute nest in the straw hat!

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    1. Hi Lynn,
      Thanks so much. I love that little garden hat too. I actually had one out on a bench last summer and a robin made her nest in the hat and it was cute until I had to water the flowers near the bench and she would get pretty upset!!!!! They make their nests in the weirdest places. I was just happy that she liked my garden hat for her nest!!!! Hope you are having a good week end.
      Kris

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  18. I love the way you have decorated. I am crazy for your headboards....and I always love seeing that bike!

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    1. Thanks so much. I do love that bike. That is one of my favorite pieces.
      Kris

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  19. Kris, I love absolutely everything you have pictured! All the chippiness and white and old pieces YUM! Perfect. You have an eye for this style! Great job on your whole design.

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    1. hanks so much Deneen. I have an addiction for chippy old pieces for decor. Have a wonderful rest of the week end.
      Kris

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  20. Kris, such fun pics!! I LOVE all of your old, chippy pieces, but you know one of my favs is still that barn door...if I ever find one like that I'll be doing the happy dance! :)
    Susan

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    1. Hello my friend,
      I do love that barn door too. The town next to where I live is a big horse raising community so when they tore down an old barn to make a new one the girls at Tattered Tiques scored this door for the shop and when I saw it I had to have it. It is a perfect size too. I may have another one that is smaller out in the shed I will have to look and see for you.
      Kris

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  21. Oh my, a chippy feast!! Love, love the little cottage bit with the mail slot and I am hoping to find at least one old gate some day. Still searching for a good old door too. Love how you've put everything together... gorgeous! :)

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    1. Tracy,
      Thanks so much. I wish you lived by me the flea market I am always talking about in posts is so good and I found all my old gates there. There is a guy with a lot of these old gates. Not sure where he gets them but glad he does and he is reasonable on his prices. I wish I could ship one to you!!!!!
      Kris

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  22. Beautiful! The bike is my favorite ~ love, love it. :)

    Pat

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  23. I discovered you by a comment you left on From My Front Porch to Yours and liked your blog name! I was richly rewarded for my curiosity and loved my first visit. I am follower #252! What a wealth of information and I love that this is actually your place and not random pictures of other people's work. What more to say, I'm a fan!

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    1. Oh I am so glad your curiosity had you find my blog!!! Welcome. Thanks for all your sweet comments.
      Kris

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  24. You have some of the most amazing pieces throughout your home...things that anyone normally wouldn't think of to use as decorations! I just adore your home!

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    1. Thanks so much Melanie. Coming from you and your beautiful home is such a compliment. I appreciate you saying this.
      Kris

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  25. I adore all the old things in your house! Have you been featured in a magazine yet? If not you should be. I love that old doors headboard and the garden gate one on the guest room--I adore your decorating!

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  26. LOVE all of the old doors....and a bit jealous that I can't find them around here! Thanks for visiting my blog....
    Janet

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  27. Kris, I love how you used old doors and gates incorporated in the design of your home. I especially love the ladder in your laundry room and the various doors throughout your home. They look so lovely and add a personal touch.

    Hope you have a wonderful week.

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  28. Love, love, love! Found you at the DIY Party. Now following you.

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  29. O, Kris. I am speechless. I know I loved your home and style of decorating, but I guess just seeing it all at once is almost too much for me to bear!!! All so beautiful and I especially love how you used the garden gates for headboards. We have a few of those, but, Guess What!, we too dumb to figure it out and we just used them as GATES!!. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this post..Happy Monday..Judy

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  30. I love it all. I need to find an old gate or a baby crib spring.

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  31. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH qué hermoso todo!!!! Felicitaciones!!! Ali.

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  32. What a lovely post. I am visiting you via No Minimalist Here. I would love for you to stop by My Dream Canvas. I am hosting a Giveaway for my blog's birthday. Please join in if you like it :)

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  33. Oh, my, what a beauctiful house you have. You managed to keep it white and insteresting. It's fascinating.

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  34. Wonderful ideas!
    With our white show a few weeks away I am going to share this with my fellow shop girls for inspiration!

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  35. Oh MY Goodness! {she says as she wipes off a little drool!!!} That door headboard is just amazing! Love the old gates...just love it all, Kris. So lovely and welcoming, and full of chippy white goodness. I simply can't say enough to cover it! Thanks so much for sharing at Blissful Whites Wednesday!! I'll be back again and again to get inspiration from this post!!
    Hugs,
    Becky

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  36. So beautiful and fun! I am hvaing more4 confidence in that old barn door I want my hubby to bring home to me before the old building falls down completely and it is ruined...there are two doors! I will probably use them under my deck....Not sure, but I love the idea!
    Hearts to you,
    Betsy

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  37. You've got some real treasures there! Love everything you've done, but especially like the sidelights and how you used them.
    Best,
    Susan

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  38. What a lovely home! I love your collections filled with charm and history. Beautiful. Thanks for the tour! I'm including a link back in this week's highlights. :) Thanks so much for sharing!

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  39. Just stopping in to pin a guest sign. I'll be your guest in there any time!

    Bliss

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  40. Your home is just sooooo CHARMING...I love all of it!!!!! You are giving me so many wonderful ideas:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  41. What a beautiful home display you have shared. I love many types of styles and designs, including what you have shared. I feel as if I went back in time growing up, visiting my great grandparents home. If I only had some of those treasures today..who knew they were so in style , and many of us children just looked at those things as just old..
    I love your style!! absolutely beautiful and so gracefully elegant.
    Visit my new blog!

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  42. Love all of your vintage repurposing. The garden gate, and the old door knobs especially. So many great ideas! Lovely.

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  43. I seriously think I'm so in love with your home and all your incredible goodies. Don't know where you get them all but I'm very envious. Think I'm a cottage chic style lover. Everything looks so clean and serene.
    I'm wondering about the tiered curtains in your guest room, did you make them and if so what with? It looks like white muslin but wanted to ask. I love the look. Would think the curtains would let the light in but still give privacy with the fullness of them. I'd love to know about them. That's something I could make that I saw in your lovely home.
    Looking at your home I remembered all the goodies we had to leave in KY when we packed up our place. Doors, wood windows, metal gates, on and on. It kills me to think of all those goodies I could be using now.
    We live west of Grand Junction, CO now and there just aren't the goodies here (unless you have lots of money) available to buy as there was in KY. I'm missing our house and all the great goodies I found all the time. I really really miss our place. Happy Easter and Spring. Enjoy your wonderful home.

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  44. Let me just say I loooooove your house. Every room is serene and stunning, something I'm working towards. I was wondering what color the walls & trim are? I have several swatches on my walls (lol) I want white walls/trim desperately however it is one of the hardest colors to choose. So many variations and undertones. Just curious what yours are, they look so beautiful and yet different enough to stand out. I am a new subscriber :) I could look at your photos all day long. Regards, Christine

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    1. Good Morning Christine. Oh Wow these are pictures from my old house. I am trying to remember the colors on the walls lol! I always use Behr paint and this was a color in the neutrals. I want to say the color was Cottage White but not sure. Here is my advice. I get swatches of the colors I like and then put them up on the walls and look at them in all different lights of the day and night. I found a cream color once and loved it and then after painting the walls it looked fabulous during the day but at night it become green in color. So lesson learned. So make sure whatever color you pick you look at it in all the lights of the room throughout the day. Thank you for coming by and joining my blog. Welcome. I am getting ready this month to close on our current home and will be moving in June to a new cottage. So stay tuned to see what I do with that sweet new home. Lots of serene to come. Have a great new week.
      Kris

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  45. Absolutely beautiful!! I just live lil the chippyness!! That would be my dream home too!

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