Double Duty Door Decor!

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I was lucky enough to go to the beach Friday and Saturday! A manatee came swimming by us in the water, too!   This is the best time of year in Florida.  The beaches aren't crowded, the water is still warm, the humidity has dropped and the sun is shining brightly. But please don't tell anyone, it's our little secret.

The start of a new week means it's time for Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.  Thanks Susan!  When we bought our house a little over a year ago, we were happy to have a double door.  It fit the style of the house and we were able to pick the paint color from the builder's choices.  After looking at other doors in the neighborhood we decided on" Raisin."  Great!  It was so easy to move furniture in with both the doors open.

Then we started to see some problems.  First, there was no way to see who was at our front door.  Second, the color isn't the easiest to work with but what I considered the biggest problem was always having to buy or make 2 door decorations!  Have you priced wreaths lately?  I know you are saying just make one.  I am wreath-challenged.  Seriously challenged!  Mine never look right no matter what I do. 

The solution to seeing who was at our door was the good old fashioned peephole.  The best price was on Amazon and the reviews gave my husband detailed instructions for installation on a fiberglass door.  Working with the color has been a challenge but after having red and green doors in the past it was a nice change.  My personal favorite door color is black but it always winds up covered in dust or pollen. 

Now how was I going to decorate the doors without busting the budget?  (what, you don't have a front door decorating budget???).  I looked at pre-made wreaths at every store you could think of.  Marshall's, Home Goods, Kirklands, Old Time Pottery even KMart!  If I liked them, they were at least $30 (times 2!).  And I want to be able to change them several times a year so multiply that amount again! On a whim I went to a gift shop very close to my house and there I found my solution.

The Rustic Rose has 3 locations.  Lakewood Ranch and Parrish in Florida and Hayesville NC.  Here's a glimpse of the store ready for Fall.

I bought 2 rustic twig baskets marked down to $12 each.  They are only a few inches deep so it doesn't take a lot to fill them.  Think of all the possibilities there are with these!  You can fill them with anything, add a ribbon or even paint them (and then paint them again!).

 Since it was summertime, I originally went with a fern (kind of tropical, right?) and sunflowers.  I have seen them filled with real flowers but who wants to go to all that trouble unless it was a special occasion? 

I used door hangers that are almost a match for the "Raisin" door color.  I like the hanger to blend in and not take attention from the decoration. 

For the Fourth of July, I stuck in a few little flags. 

Today I changed them out for an early fall look.  I found ferns that looked sort of autumnal at Michael's.   Next I added a few picks.

I missed the sunflowers!

So I put them back in. 

I may add some ivory pumpkins or starfish.  Sometimes I like to live with something for a while and then see if it needs more.  It's almost impossible not to be successful with this project.  I would love to hear what ideas you have for filling it.  Please comment below.  I will do a follow-up post with some different looks!

TIP ALERT!  As soon as I hung these, bees started buzzing around them.  I Googled what to do about it and, of course, I found my answer. I tucked a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of each basket and that did the trick.  No more bees and they smell nice too!

Thanks for stopping by and make sure you visit my sister, Elaine, at Creating Wonderful Spaces to see what she has going this week!

I am also joining Debbiedoo's Newbie Party!

And I'm joining Thrifty Decor Chic for her October Before & After Party!  Check it out!