This little gem tucked north of Historic Downtown McKinney is a great addition to downtown shopping. The owner, Amy Quay, is a retired teacher with a passion for vintage finds. We loved hearing her share the back stories of the pieces we bought. We felt like explorers in uncharted antique shopping on Kentucky St. Previously, this building was McKinney's post office, now it really delivers! Come join Kentucky St Antiques for their Grand Opening this Saturday (Labor Day weekend) for live music, great shopping & genuinely kind folks who know their stuff. With the expansion of more parking, the boundaries of The Square are ever broadening. Explore the possibilities! Kentucky St Antiques on Facebook |
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![]() Most repairs and changes that happen to our home are physically done by us. We hire out for jobs bigger than ourselves, but in general we can personally make most changes, updates and repairs. It's not just a money thing. Ok, yes it is. I'd rather spend my $$ on something other than paying others for the upkeep of our home. We recently had the bad siding replaced and window frames tweaked outside. Now it's time to get to the painting. The hardest part was picking a color my husband and I could agree on. We started the process long before the siding was replaced. Swatches were painted on all sides of the house. Once we went to pick up the paint, we started second guessing ourselves. Standing stupefied at the paint sample bar, we became "paint drunk". We ended up with an entirely new choice. We went top of the line, Valspar's newest line of paint. It is a primer/paint. Two coats of paint! What? I have no concept of this easy paint method. I usually have to do the primer, then the paint. The joy of one product was making me giddy at the mixing counter. We walked out more confident in our newest choice than the one we mulled over for weeks. Follow your instincts! I am allowing myself an hour to an hour and a half a day to work on the project. Goal set for the onset of fall to finish. In each morning's "paint time", I prep then paint. A simple scrape, sand, wash all in one swoop. Climb back to the top and do a single coat. The next day, I do my prep for the next session, while it's drying, I add my second coat to yesterday's coat, then first coat the newly cleaned area. It's slow and steady and in the Texas hot summers, its the perfect way to attack it & get it done! ![]() When I am traveling, there is one thing I must do: shop. Not the "touristie" kind of shopping on the city's main drag, I'm talking about scouting out the local hidden treasures. I love finding those items specific to the area I am visiting. The keepsakes I am drawn to are the ones not found at the souvenir shop. I look for Thrift Stores, not the brand-name shops - the off brand, one of a kind types. They have the best deals and the most unique selection of items. In my travels, I have found items that were related as well. When I traveled the Oregon coast, I purchased a berry colored tea set with 4 place settings in a style I had never seen before. Many years later, while shopping in Nyack, NY, I found additional pieces to complete the set. Across the country, there are totally different pickings! Cost differences depend on how deep in the city or out in the countryside. Even the array of tools are a varied lot, in different regions. I'm particularly keen on local hardware - I'm a fool for tools! This summer's trip to the North East was a blast. It was a small town extravaganza of good. All the junk shops along the way were humble and filled with their local style. It was awesome. I stuffed my bags full of Vermont's finest "treasures" from the Waterbury Flea Market. This particular flea market is touted as "Vermont's finest". It was different than a Texas flea market experience. Most flea markets in Texas have become pricey through the huge number of people who have created more of a commercial store that travels from one flea market to the next. Vermont was particularly well priced by folks who just want to sell their stuff. They too sell online, but are not as fancy or well organized as the market sub-culture that has taken Texas by storm. This all sounds a bit like "This Land is Your Land" .... but, I will tell you, junking was made for you and me!
![]() Call it a garage sale, tag sale, yard sale or a rummage sale -- the meaning remains the same. Our cupboard runneth over, it's sale time again in Historic McKinney! In the field of collecting treasures it is weeding time again. We've been on rain delay for weeks now, however this weekend looks like clear skies & sunny saling. Follow, like & share us on Facebook for all the details. More pictures to come. How To Love Your Home on Facebook ![]() Our personal dream has come true, in the possibilities of what a shopping bag can do. As large cities move to a plastic bag-free zone, we as consumers need to lead the way in the conservation movement. This Richardson-based bag manufacturer has definitely stepped up the eco evolution. These bags are made of renewable plant fibers and recycled cotton from t-shirt trimmings. RagBags are available at some local stores or can be custom ordered from the manufacturer. The name comes from the fact that once these bags are too worn to be used as a shopping bag, they can then be reused & repurposed as a cleaning rag. Shop Local! Shop Often! Shop with RagBags, Alternative Eco-Awesome!! We knew McKinney was #1 before Money Magazine did! These shirts represent the historic streets & love of community that is McKinney. Get this Boho neck tee while they are available at Diggin' It, sizes S-XXL!
Also, don't forget to get your ticket for the 41st Annual Holiday Tour of Homes, available at Diggin' It. We are so excited to have our t shirts available for sale this weekend. We will be just down the street from Oktoberfest at 418 W. Louisiana Street starting Friday at 6. We will also be out Saturday & Sunday along with an antique & vintage sale at this classic, historic Mckinney residence. Come out & see us!
![]() When we originally wrote about Kitchenwares on the Square, it was new and fabulous for Downtown McKinney to have an independent kitchen store. With time and a great following, their quality merchandise, guest chefs/book signings and great classes, Kitchenwares is moving to a bigger location. McKinney is a special place to own a business. Residents are loyal to the businesses they love and are supportive through thick and thin. Our recent road construction was a hot mess downtown, but didn't "detour" most customers from venturing through the mazes the construction areas created. New location - same unique destination! https://www.facebook.com/KitchenwaresOnTheSquare http://www.pinterest.com/kitchenwares/kitchenwares-on-the-square/ http://www.howtoloveyourhome.com/blog/kitchenwares-on-the-square http://www.howtoloveyourhome.com/blog/celebrity-chef-curtis-stone-visits-kitchenwares-on-the-square |
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AuthorsWe are all worthy of feeling satisfied about where we are in our homes. Our approach to the adventure is as important as the results. The journey of finding our design ideals shifts with seasons & people passing through our lives. We are more likely to enjoy the creative process when things are made easy and How To Love Your Home's passion for finding & sharing tools, tips, & triumphs is here for simplifying the journey to a commonsense approach to homemaking & design! Archives
January 2019
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