My Favorite Vintage-Inspired Finds from Amazon
From charming hardware to timeless lighting, these pieces helped me bring that collected, vintage feel into every corner of our home. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good thrift or antique store hunt. There’s nothing better than finding a one-of-a-kind piece with some history to it, but sometimes, vintage just isn’t practical. Bathroom fixtures are especially tricky to source secondhand, and when you’re trying to make things feel cohesive (like matching doorknobs or coordinating hardware), true vintage can come up short. That’s where these vintage-inspired Amazon finds come in. They have the look and feel I love, but with the consistency and availability to actually work throughout an entire space.
1. Doorknob
2. Sunroom Light
3. Hallway Pendant
4. Office Light
5. Light Switch Cover
6. Hand Towel Holder
7. Kingston Brass Faucet
8. Toilet Paper Holder
9. Bird Curtains
10. Ceiling Medallion
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How to Install a Ceiling Medallion (By Yourself!)
Ceiling medallions are one of those little details that make a huge difference. They instantly add character and charm, and they’re surprisingly easy to install, even if you're doing it solo like I was. Here’s exactly how I installed mine, step by step:
What You’ll Need:
Pencil
Baby wipes (trust me)
paint of your choice
Your light fixture of choice (I’m using this chandelier!)
Step 1: Mark Your Studs
Use a stud finder to locate the ceiling joists and mark them lightly with a pencil. Mark this line beyond the circumference of your medallion so you can see the line once it's up on the ceiling. These are where you’ll want to secure your medallion for the most hold.
Step 2: Find Your Center
If you want to get fancy, a laser level will help you find the exact center of your ceiling. But honestly? When I’ve done this with help, I just had my husband stand on the floor while we eyeballed it. This time, I was alone, so I used a laser level to double-check myself.
Step 3: Add Your Adhesive
Flip your ceiling medallion over and add Liquid Nails or another heavy-duty construction adhesive to the back. Don’t be shy, this helps it really grip to the ceiling.
Step 4: Attach It to the Ceiling
Line it up with your center mark and press it onto the ceiling. While the adhesive sets, use a brad nailer with 2” nails to secure it. Start with the nails going directly into your marked studs, then add a few more around the edges to really anchor it in place.
Step 5: Fill the Nail Holes
Once it’s secure, go in with wood filler to cover the brad nail holes. Let the filler dry completely, then give those spots a quick sand to smooth them out.
Step 6: Caulk the Edges
Run a line of caulk around the seam where the medallion meets the ceiling to give it that polished, built-in look. Baby wipes are a total hack here. They make smoothing the caulk and cleaning up extra mess so easy.
That’s It!
Once everything’s dry, you can go ahead and paint it. Not a requirement, but I highly recommend a paint sprayer if you have one since ceiling medallions usually have a lot of pretty detailing. After that, you're ready to install your light fixture. I’ll be using this chandelier in my bathroom makeover and I can’t wait to see it all come together!
Links At A Glance
Ladder
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Smart Storage for Kids’ Rooms
The Two Space-Savers That Totally Transformed My Daughter’s Room
I don’t know how kids manage to accumulate so much stuff, but somehow my daughter’s room was starting to feel like a toy explosion. Between the overflowing bookshelf and the mountain of stuffed animals, we were in desperate need of some smart storage that didn’t take up a ton of space.
Luckily, I found two absolute MVPs on Amazon that seriously changed the game:
Rotating bookshelf tower
Stuffed animal organizer (which we lovingly call “stuffed animal jail.)
Let’s start with the bookshelf. It’s compact, spins easily, and holds a ton without taking up more than a tiny footprint of floor space. We’ve got books on every side and even a few little knick-knacks she likes to keep displayed. She actually uses it now, too, because she can see and grab her books without everything toppling over. Win.
Then there’s the real star: the stuffed animal jail. Okay, it’s technically a stuffed animal organizer, but one look and you’ll see why we call it that. It corrals all the plush chaos into one tidy, vertical tower. It’s cute, on wheels, and somehow fits way more than I expected. It’s functional and fun, which is basically the dream when you’re organizing a kid’s room.
If you’re working with a small space (or just tired of stepping on random toys), these two are worth a look. They’ve helped keep things tidy while still giving her room to play, and I’m honestly a little obsessed.
Links At A Glance
Bed-Facebook Marketplace
Dresser-Antique Store
Rattan Shelf-Facebook Marketplace
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Using Wallpaper To Hide Your Light Switch Covers
Okay, this might be one of my favorite little DIYs I’ve done. In my office, I’ve got this gorgeous wallpaper going on, but the light switch cover was totally killing the vibe. It wasn’t cute or special, and it stuck out so much against the pattern.
So I covered it with leftover wallpaper. And now? It basically disappears into the wall, and I love it.
What You’ll Need:
Light switch cover
How to Do It:
Remove the light switch cover from the wall using a screwdriver.
Spray paint the screws if you want them to match the wallpaper better. Just do a quick coat and let them dry while you work on the rest.
3. Cut out a piece of wallpaper that’s a little larger than the switch plate.
4. Spray a very light layer of adhesive on the front of the cover.
5. Lay the cover onto the wallpaper, pressing it down gently but firmly.
6. Cut slits at the corners of the wallpaper so it can wrap neatly around the edges.
7. Fold the excess paper around to the back, smoothing it down as you go.
8. Snip away any extra flaps or overlapping corners so everything lays flat.
9. Use your knife to cut an “X” shape through the wallpaper over the actual light switch openings, and then fold those little flaps to the back too. You might need some extra adhesive to help them stick down.
10. Poke holes for the screws with the tip of your knife or scissors.
11. Screw it back onto the wall using your (now matching!) screws.
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Let the Robots Mow
If you’ve ever wondered how we manage to keep 6 acres looking clean without spending every weekend pushing a mower, meet our real MVPs: our robot lawn mowers. We use three of the Luba 2 AWDs. One for the front yard and two for the back.
These little guys are all-wheel drive, so they handle our hills like champs (they can tackle up to an 80 percent slope!). They map the yard on their own using AI, dodge obstacles, and even pause for rain because.
You can control everything from your phone, which means I can be sipping coffee while watching one of them stripe the yard in a checkerboard pattern. And yes, you can set custom cut heights and patterns: parallel, diamond, checkerboard - you name it.
They mow up to 1.25 acres a day, and if someone ever tried to walk off with one, they’ve got GPS anti-theft tracking too. Basically, they’re the future and we’re just living in it with better-looking grass.
If you have a smaller lawn and don’t need the big Luba 2 AWD, let me introduce you to its little sister. The Yuka Mini is perfecttttt for smaller yards.
Just like the Luba, the Yuka Mini is totally smart. It uses AI auto mapping, can mow up to 15 separate zones, and handles hills up to a 50 percent slope (which is about 27 degrees). It detects rain, avoids objects in its path, charges itself automatically, and even has geo theft tracking for peace of mind. It mows up to 0.2 acres a day, which is ideal for small to medium-sized yards.
Big yard or small, these robot mowers are the best little yard crew we’ve ever had.
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My No-Renovation Guest Room Refresh
I gave our guest room a little refresh recently, and I’m honestly so happy with how it turned out. No renovation, no paint cans, just a few cozy additions and a little furniture shuffle. It feels like a totally different space, but without the stress of a big project.
The biggest change was moving the bed to a different wall. That one simple shift made the whole room feel more open and balanced. Sometimes just rethinking your layout can breathe new life into a space without spending a dime.
Then I layered in a few new pieces that really made the room feel welcoming. The striped bedding feels classic and calm, and I paired it with floral sheets underneath for a bit of contrast. That mix keeps the bed from feeling too stiff or one-note. In a guest room, I think it’s important to add those little details that make things feel thoughtful, like you actually planned for someone to stay there, and you didn’t just throw a bed in and called it good.
I also added a textured knit throw at the foot of the bed. It’s soft and cozy, and it gives guests something extra to grab if they get cold at night. Having those little comfort items out and visible goes a long way in making the space feel warm and inviting.
The nightstands got a few updates too. One side has a beautiful lamp with a glass petal shade that gives off the softest glow in the evenings. It’s not just pretty, it’s practical too, because no one wants to fumble around looking for a light switch in a new space. On the other side, I added a small green tray that’s perfect for jewelry, keys, or anything guests want to set down at the end of the day. And instead of laying the gold mirror tray flat, I styled it upright using a plate holder. It adds a little height and shine to the nightstand, almost like a piece of art, and gives the whole setup a more styled, intentional look.
I swapped out the rug that used to be in here and brought in one I had in a different room. It’s always surprising how much that kind of change can shift the whole feel of a space. And I finally added new curtains, which helped soften the room and made it feel more finished and cozy. Just pulling in pieces I already had and mixing in a few new ones made the space feel completely refreshed.
All of these little things, like the soft lighting, layered bedding, spots to set things down, are what make a guest room actually feel super welcoming. They show that you thought about comfort, and looks. And the best part is that none of it required a huge budget or a weeks-long project.
If your guest room’s been feeling a little blah, don’t stress. You don’t need a full makeover to make it feel cozy and inviting. Just moving a few things around, layering in some comfy pieces, and adding thoughtful little touches can go a long way. Soft lighting, extra blankets, a spot to drop your stuff are all details that make guests feel like the space was put together just for them. A little effort really does make the whole room feel warm, welcoming, and ready for company.
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Pantry Organization
From Food Piles to Functional Pantry
When I say our pantry was a mess before… I mean it was a mess. We had a couple of basic IKEA cabinets, but no actual shelving. Everything else? Just piled on the floor. Boxes stacked on top of bags, cans rolling around, and a constant game of “what expired in here and where did I put the syrup?”
It was not working.
So we finally decided to give it a real setup, and I pulled together a bunch of my favorite organizing pieces to help make it actually functional.
Pantry Shelving That Actually Works
We added real shelves along one wall, and that’s where all of our everyday pantry storage lives now. I used clear containers for pretty much everything, like flour, pasta, cereal, baking ingredients, snacks, you name it. Nothing’s falling over anymore, I can actually see what we have, and it doesn’t feel like a mess every time I open the door.
Spice Racks & Lazy Susans
All the smaller stuff, like condiments, oils, sauces, baking extras, used to get lost in the shuffle. I’d forget what we even had. Now I use a three-tiered shelf to line things up so nothing gets hidden in the back, and lazy susans for anything in a bottle or jar. It keeps everything visible and easy to grab without knocking over five other things in the process. Highly recommend.
Counter Space, a Drink Fridge & Open Shelving
We already had some counter space from the original cabinets, but we extended it a bit and made it more functional. I set up a little drink zone with a mini fridge, a few pull-out bins, wine bottle storage and a bread box. It’s super practical but still feels put together.
Above it, we added open shelving, which gave me the perfect spot to display a few of my prettier pieces, that I usually pull out when we’re entertaining. Some pretty jugs, a teapot, a couple of serving items, and a few things that just make the space feel a little warmer and more personal. It balances out all the practical stuff and makes the room feel like it fits in with the rest of our home.
Finally, a Pantry That Works!
I honestly still can’t believe the difference. We went from a “stuff everywhere on the floor” situation to a space that finally works for us. And coming from our last house, where we didn’t even have a pantry, this feels like such a luxury. Having a spot where everything has a place (and actually stays there) makes such a big difference in day-to-day life.
Links At A Glance
Neon Sign (Not sold anymore)
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How To Make An End Cap For Chair Rail
Let’s talk trim. If you’re adding chair rail or any kind of molding to your walls, you’ll probably run into the question: how do I end it cleanly? Sometimes the molding wraps around a corner or continues into another space, but other times, you just need it to stop.
That’s where an end cap comes in.
It’s basically a little return piece that finishes the edge of your trim so it doesn’t look like it just… stopped mid-thought. And good news: it’s actually really easy to do with just a few cuts and a little patience.
I made a handy video explaining exactly how to do it, below!
In case you're curious, my hallway trim is actually two pieces layered together. The back board is 4.5” tall and 1/2” deep, and the rounded piece on top is 2.5” tall and 1” deep. The layered look adds a little extra dimension.
One more thing: always wear your safety goggles, even for quick cuts. It only takes a second and makes all the difference.
An end cap might seem like a small detail, but it really pulls the whole project together. It gives your trim a clean, finished edge and makes everything feel more polished and purposeful.
If you give it a go, let me know—I’d love to see how it turns out in your space!
Links At A Glance
Paint Color - Reddened Earth by HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams
Trim - Ace Hardware