​I love thrift stores! Always remember that creativity and inspiration can be found everywhere. I love shopping to find items that can be turned into something beautiful or used to display pieces. Below I will show you how I created a lovely decorative piece out of a teak bowl and a plate stand that I found at my local thrift store. Just by combining these two objects I have created a stunning work of art that can be added to any setting, whether outside in a garden or inside your home.

​I found this amazing plate stand at my local thrift store for $2.50! I was shocked to see something so luxe for close to nothing.

​I have had this teak bowl for ages which I only pull out when I am having friends over. It is such a beautiful statement piece, but I wanted to create something to show it off and have the opportunity to enjoy it even more. So I decided to mount it on a plate stand that I found...and can you believe it was only $2.50!?

Here are the tools you will need :
Basic hammer
Phillips screw driver
​2 screws
​Matte black paint (any paint will do to match your plate stand)

​Remember when working with any kind of reclaimed wood, that you make sure it is still strong enough to be altered. I was lucky with my teak bowl because it is thick enough to not cause any damage. First, I decided where I wanted to place the screws parallel on either side of the bowl. I gently tapped the screws with a hammer just to start the holes where I wanted to insert the screws to hold it on the plate stand.

​Then, I inserted the screws with the Phillips screw driver. BE CAREFUL! If you notice or hear any cracking of any sort stop and take them right out. You may have to move the screws around in a parallel movement to accommodate any weak parts in the wood. Don't worry though, a beautiful statement piece like this will look great from any angle!

​Now that the screws have been screwed in, I check it to make sure that they are parallel and that I like the placement.

​Next we painted the screws to match the paint stand. Make sure to not get any on the wood as you will have to sand it off. .

​Voila! I really love the finished product. Just by combining a thrift store find like the plate stand and a teak bowl that rarely came out of mu cupboard, I have created a beautiful statement piece that is perfect for almost any setting. Inspiration and creativity can be found anywhere!

​My partner Danny and I own a little lake cottage at the Lake of the Ozarks that we visit every year. I wanted to make sure that I included my love for plants here as well. There is a gap between our retaining wall and the deck of our porch, so I decided to build some custom planters from drain gutters! This is something that is super simple, and anyone can do it.

​This was the view of the retaining wall and deck to our cottage. The space between the railing and top of the wall was a constant eye-sore to Danny and myself.

​We always love to go hiking anytime we are at the lake! One day we found these amazing Native Christmas Fern in the undergrowth of the path. We dug them up and decided to transplant them into our new gutter-box planters.

​When you transplant any plants from the ground into containers you always want to check to make sure that the roots are healthy, and to trim off any dying foliage. Doing this will ensure that the plants acclimate to their new homes.

​We wanted to spay paint the new planters to match the retaining wall so that it looks like an extension of it, as if it just fades into the background.. Make sure you purchase an exterior spray paint so that it survives the elements of being outside.

​My professional installer Danny loves working with me, can't you tell!

​Danny was sure to mount the gutter-boxes onto the studs or posts of the deck so that they would be stable, You should always install window boxes onto a very sturdy surface, so that as your plants grow and become larger, the boxes will not fall. Make sure you properly mount window boxes so that they do not become a danger to any of your guests, or damage your plants. Also, be sure your containers drain properly by drilling holes into the bottom approximately every six inches.

​Anytime you are planting in a container make sure you use a good potting soil. Remember, you always should have a good foundation to anything that you do to be successful.

​​I planted the Christmas Ferns pretty sporadically to make sure that they still have an organic quality to them. Make sure that you plan your designs ahead to accommodate space for the other plants to ensure that they all get the proper water, and sun exposure. I did this by placing on the ground before planting them.

​I chose some gorgeous white and fuchsia Impatiens to pop against the black of the new gutter-boxes. Next I under-planted Creeping Jenny and English Ivy to add even more depth as they will continue to trail down the entire wall. Hopefully with enough love and care the Creeping Jenny, English Ivy, and Christmas Ferns will return next spring since they are perennials, Lastly I inserted a beautiful Coleus for texture and height.

Voila! Now we have a lovely spot to relax by the lake, and a retaining wall that isn't an eye-sore anymore. Keep in mind this all started with some beautiful native ferns that we saw on one of our hikes around the lake. Creativity and inspiration is everywhere in nature!

​I love it, and I hope you love it too! ​