Summertime is on its way, and with that comes a rush of activity—abundant gardens spring up, family barbecues dot the calendar, and festivals and parades trumpet every aspect of life. With all the excitement around us, it stands to reason that we are inspired to toot our own patriotic horns with seasonal decor around our homes. Rather than buy new red, white and blue decorations Country Sampler stylist René Haines encourages you to reimagine common goods with paint. “ You just can’t be afraid of it,” she says, admitting to a bit of apprehension when beginning her designs. “The first time I looked at those little houses (see page 10), I was intimidated because it’s such a blank slate,” she reveals. “ You just have to do it, because paint is correctible. If you make a mistake, you paint it again. If you just throw some paint on there, the ideas will grow.”
EYE-CATCHING CARRYALL
Reinvent a rustic tool carrier to tote a unique tabletop display. René painted red stripes on her
