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Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

Debi Ward Kennedy

Blogger | Irvine, CA http://www.homewardfounddecor.com
200 Followers 1KLikes 5595 Shares
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Featured Photos

About Me:

I author the blog HOMEWARDfound Decor, which is all about using everyday 'found' materials to create decor for your home each season of the year. Sharing my 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' (TM) tips, tutorials, inspiring images, and great resources for decor elements is my goal, to help you create fabulous spaces! http://www.HOMEWARDfoundDecor.com ____________________________________________________________ ... for 35+ years, I've been a decorator, retail visual stylist and designer, and writer. My work has appeared in FOLK Magazine, Somerset Life, Vintage Indie, design*sponge, Country Business, Romantic Homes, and other publications. I am a current regular contributor to Creating Vintage Charm and Broadway+Thresher Magazine. http://www.DebiWardKennedy.com

Favorite area of home improvement:

using everything in a very different way than anyone else does (or than the item was originally intended to be used!)


Recent Activity


  • Outdoor chandeliers, made from wire garden fencing, resin crystals, and test tubes! http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-garden-fence-chandelier.html
  • Outdoor chandeliers, made from wire garden fencing, resin crystals, and test tubes! http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-garden-fence-chandelier.html
  • Test tubes hold flower stems or tall, thin candles. http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-garden-fence-chandelier.html 1
  • Concentric circles of fencing create a tiered chandelier with dripping resin crystals. http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-garden-fence-chandelier.html
  • See 1 more photo

Garden Chandelier - Made From Wire Garden Fencing!

Bring some BLING to your garden or outdoor living area with this easy project...

Wire garden fencing is bent into circles, the ends bent into hooks, and hung with resin & ...»

glass crystals from old light fixtures... and the result is a lotta' sparkle in your yard! Use one circle, or multiples in concentric sizes for a tiered effect. You can also add test tubes or floral tubes, to hold flower stems and tall taper candles.

Find basic instructions on the HOMEWARDfound blog. #MayGarden #MayProjects

Debi Ward Kennedy
Debi Ward Kennedy Irvine, CA
5 Comments | Post Comment | 1919 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Commented 7 minutes ago
    Penster47 I like that idea!!! ...»
    Especially if you get the lights on white cords - they'd disappear against the wire fencing. (you're a smart cookie!) Thank you all for your kind comments!

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  • Woven vinyl fabric flower
  • Spray painted flowers.

Duck Cloth Spring Wreath

I finally finished my Spring Wreath! The last few weeks have been a little crazy so it took some time for me to finally settle down and make this perky Duck Cloth Wreath. I found this ...»
fabulous Cherry Idriss Fabric at Hobby Lobby and I wanted to make something beautiful with it, but still keep the pattern in tack. So I created this tutorial to show that wrapping the fabric strips around a form isn't the only way to go! I also wanted a new look for my flowers, so I spray painted them! Yes, I said spray paint! This made the texture of them nice and stiff like the Duck Cloth.

Kim~ Made in a Day
Kim~ Made in a Day Waxhaw, NC
4 Comments | Post Comment | 514 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Commented Yesterday
    This is so charming! Great colors, and pattern on the fabric!
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  • DIY to Try
  • by removing ugly and non-functional kitchen cabinets and replacing them with open shelving, we gained more storage and a more spacious-looking kitchen for FREE!

Deb @ HOMEWARDfoundDecor.com (kitchen project not posted on blog)
  • early 1990's oak corner cabinets not only lacked accessible storage, the doors were hung wrong by the builder! and that green paint? :0P
  • in one hour, the cabinets were removed from the walls. then the doors were removed from the cabinets - and used to create the shelves that would replace them!
  • painting the trim bright white and the walls & ceiling tan opened up this 'bay' area of the kitchen and made it all seem connected and more spacious. the overhead beam seems much lighter with tan paint than the previous green & white.
  • there are MORE dishes being stored on these shelves than ever fit in the previous four cabinets! it's open, light, and stylish. (and the window looks larger with white trim!) Base cabs were to be painted white in the next phase.
  • See 2 more photos

FREE Kitchen 'Cabinet to Shelf' Makeover!

Not very long ago in place far away, I had a dream house. Except for the kitchen...

Stuck in the early 90's, it was really ready for a makeover. ...»

The oak cabinets were ugly and basically non-functional: narrow, hard to get access to the back of the corner cabs, and the doors were hung backward by the original builder! In record time, they were replaced with open shelving.

We removed the cabinets from the wall, then removed the doors from them.

Those doors became the shelves, and the cabinet walls were ripped into strips to create the brackets to hold the shelves on the wall. Painted white, they were ready to go up within a day - AFTER the walls were painted!

A fresh tan paint color on the entire kitchen (walls AND ceiling) unified the spaces that had been split by the overhead beam and 'bay' area on the window side. (Unseen in the photos, a new track light was installed on the backside of the beam to brighten up the area). White paint on the window trim made it seem much larger and more open than the previous wood tone. [BTW, the rest of the plan was to paint the lower cabinets white, unifying the whole kitchen. I never got that far before we had to move.]

The wood shelf brackets were screwed into the studs, the shelves screwed onto the brackets, and the project was done.

Then I filled up those shelves and the counter space below them with functional and beautiful elements - and those shelves held over TWICE the amount of kitchenware than the cabinets ever had!!

Best part? This project cost us nothing but time:

We had the paint (our whole house was painted that color), we had the screws and sand paper and tools, and we used the old cabinet wood for the new shelves. It turned out so well, we ended up doing exactly the same thing in the laundry room, too!

#MyKitchen #Before&After

Debi Ward Kennedy
Debi Ward Kennedy Irvine, CA
7 Comments | Post Comment | 1512 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Commented 5 days ago
    Gee, Grace, I can't imagine adding anything MORE to this post - it's quite 'wordy' and ...»
    informative as it is. What 'more' were you expecting???

    And that's not clutter in my eyes, but a collection of items that I loved and used everyday in my own kitchen.

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  • KITCHEN IDEAS
  • Flip Flop wreath... fun and easy.

Flip Flop Wreath

Easy to do and only cost about $7.00.. I did another one with a mirror in the middle and used the handle to hang it...
Laurie VD
Laurie VD Gwinn, MI
8 Comments | Post Comment | 429 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Liked 5 days ago
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  • Everything Good
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  • An old ironing board that I recently painted white makes a great out door vignette on the patio.
  • I plan to drill a small hole in the ironing board top to slip the hanger wire through so it won't blow off.
  • I used a laundry basket shaped container for the Rose Star Calibrachoa.

Pressing Garden Matters

I recently painted an old wooden ironing board to use on my patio in a vignette. #Summerstyle
Organized Clutter
Organized Clutter International Falls, MN
9 Comments | Post Comment | 719 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Commented 5 days ago
    Organized Clutter , this is SO ...»
    darn cute! I used to have a bunch of those ironing boards, but sold them :/

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  • I started by removing the covers and washing them.
  • I labeled the "fluff" taken from the back cushions so I wouldn't get confused when it was time to re-stuff.
  • I used this quilt batting ($9.99 at Walmart) to beef up the cushions.
  • I simply trimmed the batting and wrapped it around the bottom cushions to boost their fluff-ability. Yep. That's the technical term. ;)
  • I put the covers back on the new beefed-up cushions and now my couch looks as good as new.
  • Like new again ... 1
  • Like new again ...
  • Now if I can just keep this guy off the couch. 4
  • See 6 more photos

How to Make an Old Couch New Again for $10

I may have mentioned a few - or a million - times how much I love my living room couch. Well, after two years of lovin', my beloved couch was starting to show some wear. The notorious ...»
mystery spots were starting to appear and some wrinkles and sags were forming in the cushions. Time to start Mission: Couch Rejuvenation ...

Living Rich on Less - Susan
Living Rich on Less - Sus... Huntingdon, PA
49 Comments | Post Comment | 22989 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Liked 7 days ago
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  • I used everyday materials to embellish patio umbrellas for a whole new look! http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/charming-embellished-umbrellas.html
  • I used everyday materials to embellish patio umbrellas for a whole new look!  http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/charming-embellished-umbrellas.html
  • featured in Creating Vintage Charm Magazine May, 2013. http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/charming-embellished-umbrellas.html
  • The embellished umbrellas were a perfect topper for a feminine refreshment table at an event. http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/charming-embellished-umbrellas.html
  • See 1 more photo

Charming Embellished Umbrellas

I love using everyday materials in fresh new ways... prettifying patio umbrellas is one of them! These feminine and flouncy toppers sit over a refreshment table at one of my Spring market ...»
events, and I could have sold them a hundred times over!! They'd be perfect for a baby or bridal shower, too.

It's easy to transform plain umbrellas this way - click through to my HOMEWARDfound blog post for more info PLUS the link to order your own copy of Creating Vintage Charm Magazine (a print publication) May 2013, where my umbrellas are featured! #SummerStyle #MayProjects

Debi Ward Kennedy
Debi Ward Kennedy Irvine, CA
3 Comments | Post Comment | 539 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Commented 7 days ago
    Hmmmmnnn.. let's see if I can't help you with that, Christina ...»
    !

    How about for a wedding? A bridal shower? A baby shower? A baby's birthday party - or nursery decor? Hanging over the bed in a little girl's room? Over the table at a tea party (for big OR little girls!)? A retail store display prop?

    And for the smaller 'parasol' versions, how about as a photo prop for some glamour / boudoir shots? Or a senior portrait? Something to replace the flag in an outdoor wall bracket holder?

    Whew... how am I doin' so far? :D

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  • Sometimes the simplest, last-minute details make all the difference!
  • Simple Summertime porch decor...
  • My favorite place. 2
  • My front porch in FOLK Magazine Issue V Summer, 2012
  • Simple summer beverage: water flavored with strawberries and blueberries. 1
  • See 2 more photos

Ingredients for a Summertime Front Porch:

It's not hard to create an oasis on a front or back porch -

1. round up a few comfy chairs or a lounge, maybe a swing. ...»

2. add a table to hold a glass.

3. pop in a few pillows and a splash of color in an accessory or two.

...and you have your OWN summertime retreat to enjoy!

Once upon a time, I lived in my dream house. And that dream house had a wide front porch that just said 'Summertime'... It was the perfect place to hang a swing, where I could sit and work or just relax. Add in a few patriotic decor details and a refreshing summer beverage, and it was truly my haven, my retreat. I enjoyed that porch in every season, but especially in summer!

These photos were included in my 'Sweet ReTreats' column in FOLK Magazine's Issue V, Summer 2012. #SummerStyle #OutdoorLiving

Debi Ward Kennedy
Debi Ward Kennedy Irvine, CA
16 Comments | Post Comment | 6275 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Commented 7 days ago
    Sandy K , I lived on an island ...»
    north of Seattle, and it rained nearly every month of the year! I simply folded up the quilt and grabbed the pillows each evening, tucking them into the entry hall closet inside the front door. Everything else weathered the weather ;)

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  • The perfect way to upgrade those last minute flowers for Mom: pop 'em into a purse! http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/mothers-day-in-bag.html
  • Potted plants work inside purses & tote bags, too! http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/mothers-day-in-bag.html
  • Adding a matching scarf is a nice finishing touch... http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/mothers-day-in-bag.html
  • The perfect way to upgrade those last minute flowers for Mom: pop 'em into a purse!  http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/mothers-day-in-bag.html
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Mothers Day is in the BAG!

Mom knows the flowers are a last minute gift grab, she really does. Here's a way to up the ante and present them with FABulous style that will win you major brownie points.... ...»

Before you pick up the flower bouquet from the grocery store or farmer's market on the way to brunch with Mom, hit the local Ross, Marshall's, Walmart, or even a thrift store. Find a cute, elegant, quirky, or fashionable purse or evening bag (depending on your mom's style). If you can find a scarf to match, you get extra brownie points!!

Then wrap the flower stems (or potted plant) in plastic bags, and pop them INTO THE PURSE! It's gift and giftwrap all in one! Happy Mother's Day! #MayProjects

Debi Ward Kennedy
Debi Ward Kennedy Irvine, CA
2 Comments | Post Comment | 266 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Commented on May 13, 2013
    Thank you, Miriam I !
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  • Pretty Planters (also...
  • Celebrate Mom with a garden theme - indoors or out!
  • Bright colors, flowers, and a garden theme are a perfect way to start the day for Mom!
  • This Garden Party theme was inspired by my tin can flower baskets... find the tutorial here: http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/tutorial-may-day-tin-can-flower-baskets.html
  • You can find my tutorial for my EASY tin can flower baskets here: http://homewardfounddecor.blogspot.com/2013/05/tutorial-may-day-tin-can-flower-baskets.html
  • See 1 more photo

EASY Mothers Day Garden Party Decor!

While breakfast in bed is nice, it's also messy. Why not serve Mom her breakfast (or brunch, if you let her sleep in like she really wants!) outdoors? ...»

Today I am sharing some 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' ideas for turning a back porch or patio into a charming setting for Mothers Day...

Just grab some stuff from the garden: flower pots, cute gloves, and seed packets. Make some of my tin can flower baskets in a jiffy (Tutorial on my blog) and fill them with fresh-cut flowers and herbs. Pop some new flowering plants into pretty gift bags (decorate with them now, plant later!). Add a vintage floral-print tablecloth, some picnic dishes, and bring Mom outside to sit on the swing while you serve her mimosas in the sunshine!

#MayProjects

Debi Ward Kennedy
Debi Ward Kennedy Irvine, CA
2 Comments | Post Comment | 352 Views
  • Debi Ward Kennedy
    Commented on May 11, 2013
    Thank you, Redfly Creations!
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