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Inspiration for Decoration

My mantle needs a makeover.

foyer makeover storage bench and shelves

What, you say? That’s not my mantle? Oh, of course! You’re right. I should back up.

My mantle *does* need a makeover, though. Desperately. Witheringly. But I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do with it yet- that’s always the hardest part, isn’t it?? Although, I am on my way- I have no problem in the collecting department! ;) But until I figure it out, these collections have taken up residence in the foyer- above this cubby bench, and have found quite a nice home on the cubby shelf, actually. I’ve dubbed it…. the “Overflow Mantle“!

foyer makeover storage bench and shelves

My favorite piece is the framed photo (below, right) of my hometown (Auburn) in 1899. And see that little yellow tin? It’s a candle, and the scent is “Toomer’s Lemonade”.  Toomer’s Drugs is that building you see on the right in the picture. The drugstore opened in 1896 and is still there today. The same sign out front has been there since, gosh, I don’t know, at least the 50s!  And they have the best. lemonade. ever. Freshly squeezed, lip-smacking, so sweet and sour it’ll knock your socks off! If Bobby Flay were going to do a Lemonade Throwdown, he would have it at Toomer’s Drugs. Because they are the best. Of the best. The candle is divine. I love it. It’s my hometown.

foyer

The other candle’s scent is “Sani-Freeze”, an ice cream stand that stood just a block from Toomer’s Drugs- and was so run down and dilapidated it was more affectionately known as “The Flush”. They had the best peanut butter milkshakes (extra thick, please) in the entire world. Much, much, much to my dismay, The Flush is no longer there. It was replaced with (of course) a bank. The candle doesn’t smell anything like what I remember of the Flush… but I had to get it anyway. :)

My plan is for these pieces to eventually make it to the mantle- when I can finally make up my mind what to do with it! Whenever I need ideas for decorating and arranging mantles & shelves, or any room in the house, I totally hit this site:

inspiration-for-decoration

Inspiration for Decoration

My favorite, favorite, favorite decorating blog ever- it’s a great place to start. Isn’t it so clean and refreshing? Just click on one of the labels in the drop down menu and you have hundreds of ideas to browse through- all for the room or space you are wanting to decorate.

What’s your favorite “inspiration for decoration” blog? Where do you go when you need ideas?

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53 Responses
  1. geraldine

    I’m a fan of vintage ambiance decors, vintage ambiance and so. I love the way you organize things and turned in into much classic and elegant set-up. I definitely want to hang here often!

  2. Lindsey

    Where did you get the mantle piece and the bench below? I have a small space and wanted to do something like this for those things that don’t have a place and shoe storage!

  3. Margaret Bearss

    Hi Amanda,
    I had your “free fonts” page bookmarked for ages, but just noticed your hubby’s AUBURN shirt – War Eagle! I grew up in Auburn, went to Auburn High, and eventually graduated from the University. Your site is very nicely done and I love your scrapbook room.

    Margaret.

  4. Jen Morris

    Thanks so much for linking to Inspiration for Decoration! I put a lot of time and energy into it and I’m so glad it is enjoyed by you.

  5. Lara

    Hi. I have the same question as the most recent comments. I actually bought the same cubbies and am having the HARDEST time finding baskets to fit. So was wondering where you found yours! ADORABLE!

    1. Amanda

      Hi Lara! I got mine at Michaels, but it was years and years ago! I just recently got new baskets for the bottom cubbies at Hobby Lobby. I haven’t found matching baskets for the top cubbies yet though! My favorite places to look for storage baskets are Hobby Lobby, The Container Store, HomeGoods, World Market, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, Michaels, and TJMaxx. Hope this helps! :)

  6. courtney sager

    I have the exact same set that I recently purchased on Amazon. I would love to know where you got the baskets and what you filled them with. :)

  7. Lori Allberry

    Hey Amanda – I have a great idea! I think you need to come to visit Nebraska, and decorate my house for me, how does that sound???? =)

    ♥Lori

  8. SarahKL

    Hey Amanda, I really enjoy reading your blog! I wanted to let you know I’m doing a $20 Lowes gift card giveaway on my blog (sarahg816.blogspot.com) in case you’re interested! Keep up the good work! I always love to see your projects! :)

  9. Melissa

    I was notified on Facebook that you had a giveaway and I was reading through your post’s and came across this one! I have the same exact Auburn picture here in our office right next to our computer! We live a few minutes outside of Auburn and I have lived in Auburn for the past 10 years! What a small world! And I agree about the lemonade at Toomers and I have been wanting to get one of those candles.

  10. Jenn

    Saw this the other day on an artist’s website, and how ironic that I read about it on your blog later on! It’s a print of the “Sani-Freeze” you mentioned….what are the odds? Don’t know if it fits in with your mantle “remodeling”, but I thought it was neat! I have some UGA prints by this artist, but I had no idea he had ties with Auburn, too! Hope you enjoy it!

    http://www.petethecat.com/product_info.php?products_id=406

  11. Paulete

    I would love to change my blog fonts, as I´ve seen in your tutorial, but do you have any fonts that I can write words such as “decoração” for example??

  12. Devyn

    Love it! I love that cubby bench and shelf! Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
    My favorite place to ideas is my 3 cousins blog
    gorgfabgoodies.blogspot.com
    they are amazing with working on a budget! Check it out!

  13. Lori

    Oh, how I miss Auburn. My home-away-from-home. I would love to get some of those candles. Where did you get them? At Toomer’s??

  14. Brooke

    I am a disaster when it comes to decorating. It’s the last thing to get done at our place!!

    I just had to mention my addiction to fresh homemade lemonade. I live in Australia and we used to be able to buy it at the grocery store, but no longer = ( Your mention of the best lemonade ever has my mouth watering!!

  15. heather

    I just wanted to say thanks – I used your step by step directions and it definitely helped (and worked!) Your post totally made me smile at the end of a long day – I spent 7 years in Auburn (undergrad and vet school) and loved every minute of it. My (now) husband and I loved, loved the flush – the upside down banan split! I can’t wait for my girls to roll Toomer’s corner. Thank you so much for your ideas, and the time and thought you put into your site – it is wonderful. Thank you!! War Eagle!

  16. Laurie

    Your entry is adorable! I especially love old photos of my hometown, too. I think I’ve seen that blog before, and I can spend hours looking at the beautiful decor. Now I’m off to browse the blogs your readers posted.

  17. Debra Heschl

    I LOVE it!!!!I having been trying to find a creative way for coats & things..thank you for the tip! I have some shopping to do now!!! hehe!

  18. amy

    (*I posted this under the freebies area on the original post, but wasn’t sure if you would get it.*)

    I just recently stumbled upon your blog and fell in LOVE with your fall and spring mixes!! I’m brand new to the blog design world and your sets have made it super easy to get started. Please check out my blog and let me know what you think! Any hints or tips would be very welcome. Also, how do you make the papers/buttons/ribbons in the first place?

    http://trammelldesigns.blogspot.com/

    Thanks again!!! You’re awesome!!!

  19. Brittaney

    What?! They have candles in those scents?! Where did you get those from? I must have them! Auburn is my hometown as well, and I’d have to say it’s the best hometown to have (I’m not biased or anything). Good luck with decorating your mantle!

  20. Cathy

    I love Toomer’s lemonade. I want a candle like yours. My friends used to work at The Flush. The only thing better than an extra thick peanut butter milkshake is a FREE extra thick peanut butter milkshake. This post made me a little homesick. :o) Thanks for sharing though!

  21. Jenn Corum

    Oh great! Now there is yet another blog I want to follow!!! :) Inspiration for Decoration… wow! Love it. I haven’t really been able to find many decorating blogs that I like. They are all a little abstract – though Decor8 is growing on me a lot.

  22. Lea

    Oh, my, love finding a new place to go for decorating ideas. Hats off to you for always having the greatest “tid bits.” And, I love your mantle pictures and the stories behind the pictures. That just makes it even more special. So, enjoy your blog!

  23. rhonda

    Oh, I had no idea you were from Auburn…WAR EAGLE!!

    I was in engineering at AU (grad in ’95, and we would go to Toomer’s for breakfast)…memories, memories…

  24. Melissa

    Awesome decorating blog- thanks for including that! I have wasted/spent 45 minutes on it and I haven’t even signed into my work computer yet. Uh oh, could be my new past time. Makes me want to run home and decorate!!

    Melissa

  25. Julie

    Ohhh, how fun about candles and shops in Auburn. I am actually not far from Auburn at all, maybe 30 min., if that…so next time I’m there I will have to look for Toomer’s and get a lemonade!!
    Love the blog you shared, that will leave me with tons to look at!!

  26. Úrsula

    Hi Amanda!
    Thanks for sharing this blog with us. I absolutely love decoration. I don’t have my own home yet but I’m starting to get some pictures from magazines and now of course, from this amazing blog.
    Love & Blessings

  27. Ana

    Thank You for sharing that shabby blog. I heart the inspirations. One of my favorite idea inspiration sites is potterybarn.com, ikea.com, and anthropologie.com I love just looking at the beautiful ideas and thinking of how i can recreate it for cheaper :)

  28. Stefani

    seriously amazing website, thank you for sharing!! i tagged it for future ideas…. i can’t wait for my own room dedicated JUST to me and my craft/stuff!! :)

  29. Vicki

    I wanted to share this website with you: http://allbowerpower.wordpress.com. The author recently updated her mantel: http://allbowerpower.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/monochromatic-mantle/

    But what I really thought of when I read your post was this post by her that discribes a “technique” for decorating mantles or side tables: http://allbowerpower.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/its-the-tops/

    I had no idea about balancing items and finding things that work together.

  30. HeatherB

    I definitely need to clean up our entrance ways. I’ve had the same Ikea set on my wish list for a while now, maybe it is time to get it sorted out!

    And thanks for the link to the design blog – looks like it will be a fun site to browse!

  31. Hannah

    Love the memories–and now you’re making me hungry for a milkshake. ;) I’d LOVE to see a Bobby Flay Throwdown for that lemonade. :)

    Love & Blessings,

    –Hannah

  32. Laurie

    WOW what a wonderful idea.. I have a bonus room off the back door this is so what i need. going to have to check out this blog!
    Thanks for sharing!

  33. Glenda

    Amanda,
    I love this! Talk about bringing back old memories too…I loved The Flush…you’re right, the best milkshakes around! That was one of my favorite places to go when I was at Auburn. Oh yes, Toomer’s Drugs has the best lemonade ever! War Eagle!!!! Thanks for sharing…

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Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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