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In the late 1800’s, many Victorian homes had a small silver tray in the front hall, typically used for “calling cards.” Guests left their engraved paper visiting cards on this tray to show they had called, even if the homeowner was not home. This was an important social ritual for the Gilded Age. Once electroplating was patented in England in 1840, it made silver objects within reach of anyone with a middle-class income.
Within a generation, nearly every house had card trays, bread trays, and even dresser trays, which is why you can still find them at antique malls and estate sales. You may not have anything to serve on a tray, but once you hang these silver trays on a wall, they do something a print can’t, because silver bounces light throughout the room. A monogram of the previous owner only adds to the mystique and history of the tray.
Goodbye Traditional Bird Baths: Use A Plastic Bottle To DIY One With Running Water
When it's sweltering outside and you know a bird bath on your patio would help your feathered friends cope with the heat, where do you start? While store-bought options might be your first thought, there's a DIY version you'd want to try out. YouTuber Robbie of RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy inspired us with her simple but ingenious idea for a DIY solar-powered bubbling bird bath you can put together in no time, even if you're a beginner DIYer. This is one of the easiest bottle, some rocks, a short piece of plastic tubing, and an inexpensive solar-powered fountain pump kit like the AISITIN DIY Solar Water Pump Kit. You'll also need a hot glue gun and glue sticks, a soldering iron, scissors, a wooden dowel for the perch, and, of course, some water. Then, run to your garden and collect some decorative stones or find some beautiful river rocks.
For More Beautiful Wood Furniture, Paint It Norwegian-Style And Never Go Back
Wood furniture will never go out of style, but it's certainly seen plenty of changes throughout the years. Ornate, highly detailed antiques, sleek, mid-century modern pieces, and shabby chic, whitewashed builds have all had their time in the sun at one point or another, leaving you reeling as you shop around for future heirlooms that will remain stylish for decades and . If you're tired of settling for plain, risk-free wood pieces, consider upgrading them with some detailing that's . After all, it's been around for centuries.
Turn A Cardboard Box Into Cleverly Hidden Kitchen Storage With A Savvy DIY
If you’re someone who likes being in the kitchen, chances are that you are always on the hunt for some practical storage. Whether it’s product manuals, coupons, or printed recipes, piles of paper can quickly lead to clutter and disorganization. Individuals who enjoy crafting are in luck, thanks to clever hidden kitchen storage that converts a cardboard box and some old cookbook covers into something useful.
Everyone Used To Collect Them — Now They’re A Budget-Friendly Find For Collage Walls
To the delight of every maximalist, the gallery wall, in all of its monochrome, curated perfection, is no longer in style. In its place? Something a little more spontaneous. The gallery wall's avant-garde cousin, the collage wall, is more like a mood board. It's full of different items and textures — many unframed, easy to pull off the wall, move around, and layer for a personal look. More good news: one of the most perfect additions to your collage wall might cost less than an iced coffee and be found at your local antique store.
Fungus Fades Fast With This Simple Evening Routine!
No More Boring Racks — This ’80s Find Is A Cuter Way To Organize Your Entryway
After an ABBA album was successfully pressed into one of the first CDs made in 1982, this led to a memorable yet brief era of CDs dominating physical media. As the 2000s introduced people to palm-sized MP3 players and eventually, streaming platforms, the transition from physical to digital media has left many discs to collect dust. Not only was the CD rendered obsolete, a lot of stuff meant for CDs were also phased out, such as built-in CD players in cars, and even furniture like CD racks and cabinets. Nevertheless, just as you can repurpose old furniture, you could also give new life to CD racks as a chic and practical entryway storage.
The DIY Weed Wacker Idea That Seems Genius, But Is Actually A Waste Of Time
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Trade In The Flimsy Baskets: The Durable Vintage Find That Creates Instant Storage
Woven baskets have been having their moment as staples in home decor for quite a few decades now. After all, they are affordable, easy to tuck household items into, and blend in well with plenty of style aesthetics. However, they can fray, sag, and fall apart faster than you would like, especially once they are holding any heavier items. If you want a storage solution that can survive a move, a flood, or even a curious 3-year-old, try adding a vintage metal ammunition box to your shelves.