Home Decor - BELLE OMNILEY

Belle Omniley Home Decor Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Quartzite Countertop –A Guide to Choosing and Maintaining the Stone for Your Kitchen

If you are looking for a beautiful, durable, and unique countertop material, then quartzite countertop is the right choice. Quartzite is a natural stone that comes in many different colors and patterns. No two slabs are identical because this is a natural stone. Although it is a natural stone, it is very hard and durable.

It has the hardness of granite and marble combined, which makes this a great choice for your kitchen countertop. Quartzite can be installed in any type of setting—from an island to traditional cabinetry.

quartzite countertop

After looking at numerous granite and quartz slabs, I stumbled upon the quartzite selection, and I was amazed at the uniqueness and beauty of each slab. It didn’t take me too long to lock my decision on Yosemite Falls Quartzite it is such a beauty.

quartzite countertop yosemite falls

Now the truth about quartzite countertop…

Quartzite is a very porous material and is not naturally stain-resistant. The best way to maintain your quartzite countertop is by sealing it with a special sealer. This will help prevent stains from penetrating the stone and make cleaning easier.

The initial seal is usually performed by your installer or fabricator. They will use a heavy-duty sealant that likely requires a professional. You can test your countertop to see if it has been sealed by placing a drop of water on the countertop. If it beads up like Rain-X on a windshield, it’s sealed; if it completely disappears and permeates the stone, it likely has not been sealed.

I use TriNova as a daily cleaner, polisher, and sealer for my quartzite countertop. This is a great product to have on hand as it does a good job of cleaning and polishing granite, marble, and other natural stones.

You should avoid using abrasive cleaners or scouring pads, as these can scratch the surface of quartzite. If you have a spill or stain on your quartzite countertop, use a soft cloth to wipe off any food particles, then rinse with water and dry it off completely.

If you have a deep stain on your quartzite countertop, it’s best to use a special stone cleaner to remove the stain. I use Stonetech Oil Remover for any stain that doesn’t come out with regular soap and water. If you don’t have a similar product, try using a poultice made of baking soda and water. Remember to reseal the countertop after using the oil stain remover as it removes all the existing sealant.

Quartzite Slab Thickness Variation

If you are replacing an existing countertop, it is important to know that quartzite is naturally occurring, and the 2 cm and 3 cm are just a guide if you need a certain thickness to measure your countertop. We, unfortunately, didn’t know this and replaced our 3 cm quartz with what we thought was 3 cm quartzite, and we ended up having to have our backsplash re-done because of this variation.

The reason for the variation is that quartzite is naturally occurring and mined from the earth. The stone is formed in layers, and sometimes there are gaps between those layers. This can make it difficult to get a uniform thickness throughout your quartzite slab. You can see in our photo the issue with our countertop.

We’ve only had our countertops for about 3 months, so I am still in the beginner stage, but the beauty of the countertops gets me every time I walk into my kitchen.

When considering what would best suit your needs, there is a plethora of options to choose from. The material, thickness of the stone, and color should all be taken into consideration when selecting your new countertop. You can confidently make the right decision that will last you a lifetime through patience and research. Be Well-Omniley

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Belle Omniley Holidays Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Porch Decor for Fall

Today’s post is all about my porch decor for fall.

I love decorating my porch for fall! I have always enjoyed decorating for the seasons, and this is one of my favorite times to do it. I have found adding some fall colors with mums, marigolds, and pumpkins embraces the oncoming season. I also like to bring out the reds and oranges of the leaves with a few large leaf arrangements.

Seasonal decorating is a fun way to add some spice to your home. It’s also a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

I am a sucker for all things pumpkins, so when I saw these adorable pumpkins at Marshalls, I had to grab them. I think they complement my bed swing well.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are one of the most affordable decorations you can use in your outdoor space. They come in all shapes and sizes, so finding one that fits your decor will be easy. If you want something more unique than the typical round pumpkin, try an oblong shape or even a mini gourd!

Mums

Mums are another great way to add color to your porch bed swing for fall! You can plant them in pots on your porch railing or place them in decorative baskets next to your swing.

I have a porch swing that my husband and son made for me a few years ago (check out the DIY). It’s very special to me. I try not to cover it up with too many items, but I like adding some fall touches, such as these pumpkins and throw. I also have a few pumpkins on the front porch, and some fall decorations. I love to decorate for the holidays, so I like to add some touches that will last all season long.

What do you think? Do you love the idea as I do? Are you looking forward to fall and all of the activities it has to offer? I think my favorite part of fall is decorating my porch. I love creating unique ways to decorate it so that it’s not the same old porch from year to year. What are some of your favorite aspects of fall, and what are you planning on doing during this wonderful time of year? Be Well-Omniley

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A Beautiful Table Setting For Your Autumn Dinner

Sharing my first fall tablescape of the year. for our first autumn dinner. I will change it to my traditional pottery collection salad plates closer to Thanksgiving. I also added some seasonal fruit to our tablescape this year, including Barlett pears and black grapes. I will never avoid blue and white, but I love natural tones more and more. So I decided to add wood pumpkins for a great contrast.

Let’s Shop for Pumpkins

autumn dinner

Shop All My Fall Tablescape for your Perfect Autumn Dinner

Not quite in the fall mood yet? Check out my PUMPKIN BREAD recipe, which will surely get you into pumpkin season. As always, Thank you for stopping by my page. Be sure to follow me on all my social media handles. Be Well.

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Belle Omniley DIY Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Easy DIY Orchid Arrangement

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Yield: 1

DIY Orchid Floral Arrangement

Love a beautiful floral arrangement, but not the price tag that comes with it. I've seen some arrangements that cost almost $500.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Materials

Shell Planter (or planter of choice)
1-2 orchids real/fake
1 staghorn fern or bird's nest fern real/fake
Coco Basket Liner, round
Potting Soil

Tools

Scissors
Hand shovel

Instructions

Cut coco basket liner to the shape of the planter.
Add a layer of potting soil for the base
Remove plants from the container and plant them in a container. Cover with soil. Note: if you are using fake plants break them carefully from the original container unless they will fit flush in your new planter.
Lastly, cover with Spanish moss, and voila.

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Belle Omniley Home Decor Baton Rouge, Louisiana

5 Stylish Houseplants that are easy to Maintain

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Top Five Kitchen Must-Haves For Any Kitchen

Greetings, I hope this post finds you well. If you follow me on my Instagram stories, you may know that we are in the middle of a mini kitchen remodel. I adored my kitchen the way it was, but life always happens, so I am taking advantage of upgrading some items. I also decided to get rid of some things that I never use. This leads me to share my top five kitchen must-haves for any kitchen. Whether you are revamping your kitchen, decluttering, moving into your own place, or helping that recent graduate move into his/her new place, these top five kitchen items are a must-have in any kitchen.

I guess the saying old saying, “With age comes wisdom,” is true. I have finally come to appreciate some key must-haves in my kitchen and realize that quality is of most importance, or you will continue replacing these frequently. I guess the saying old saying, “With age comes wisdom,” is true. I have finally come to appreciate some key must-haves in my kitchen and realize that quality is of most importance, or you will continue replacing these frequently.

CAST IRON SKILLET This is one of my favorite items in my kitchen. It’s perfect for searing a steak to making your favorite casserole dish. From oven to table, it is ready to go. I must admit I wasn’t super impressed with my cast iron skillets when I first got them. It took some time to get them seasoned and ready for use. I now have 3 in varying sizes, and I use one at least once a week.

INSTANT POT This is by far a game changer. I have been the owner of an instant pot for almost 4 years now, and it has proven well work the money repeatedly. There have been times when I didn’t think about dinner, and the instant pot has saved the day. These can be used for numerous things. I typically use mine for any meats that I would normally slow cook for hours; this thing will cut your cooking time in half.

MIXING BOWLS What is a kitchen without mixing bowls? I actually have 3 sets of mixing bowls. These definitely come in handy when you are baking or following any recipe. I recommend a set that comes with lids, so if you have to refrigerate it or leave it for some time, your food or ingredients are protected.

CHEF’S KNIFE This is my go-to knife in my kitchen. I’ve learned that a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp knife over the years. This knife is an all-purpose cook’s knife and can be used for chopping, mincing, slicing, and dicing. If you have the budget, I recommend investing in a great set of knives. Also, be sure to care for your knives according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

COOKING UTENSIL SET Every kitchen needs a great set of cooking utensils. Whether you are frying, baking, or mixing the perfect utensil is always needed. I have two sets; please don’t judge. You know my favorite colors are blue and gold, so I have a set in each color.

You can find all of my kitchen must-haves HERE. Please be sure to let me know your favorite item too. I’m curious if great minds think alike.

♥ Items currently on my wishlist ♥

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Belle Omniley Home Decor Baton Rouge, Louisiana

STYLING FAKE PLANTS AN EASY DIY

YOUR GUIDE TO STYLING FAKE PLANTS

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to jazz up fake plants. Whether indoor or outdoor your neighbors and friends will definitely envy your green thumb.

What She’s Wearing

If you ever visit my home, you will know who primarily has the green thumb. Yes, you guessed it right, my husband. I for one was not prepared for the amount of wildlife activity that occurs when you are surrounded by water and the woods. I have seen my fair share of snakes; therefore during the spring and summer months, I leave the gardening to my husband. This year I still wanted plants on my porches; I have the great idea of trying out fake plants. So here’s my take on styling fake plants.

Plant(s). The first step is picking your plant(s). I have wanted lemon trees for a while. We have a few real ones in the yard, but I think the yellow looks perfect against my chinoiserie planters so I opted for lemon trees. This tutorial will work for any fake plant.

Planter(s). I am partial to any chinoiserie planter or anything blue and white. So have your pick. The perfect planter really makes the project pop. The best places to get planters at a great price are Tuesday Morning, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls.

Potting Soil. You can choose any soil you like here. Remember, if you are potting a fake plant, it doesn’t need to be filled with fertilizer. I used some of my husband’s bulk gardening soil.

Moss. This moss definitely makes the plant look even more realistic. The lemon trees used in this tutorial came with moss. I also added some additional moss I picked up from Hobby Lobby.

Now depending on the number of plants you are potting, this project takes less than 5 minutes per plant. The first thing I do is make a flat base in the planter for the plant to sit on. These particular planters had grooves in the bottom for draining, so I added a layer of soil on the bottom to make my plants sit flush. I then secured the plant in its position by adding soil around it. From there, I fill the planter will soil as I would planting a real plant.

Last but definitely not less, I added moss. Normally when planting a real plant, I use moss to hold the moisture in so I don’t have to water as much. Now if you decide to try this, please let me know. Your secret will be safe with me! Omniley.

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PORCH BED SWING SPRING UPDATE

Hi, Y’all! One thing that I had on my wishlist and prayed for in our forever home was to have six exterior columns and a porch. Yes, I was so specific on the number of columns…why? There was a gorgeous home in our previous neighborhood and I adored the six front-facing white exterior columns. So of course I always had the columns and a porch on my wishlist. What’s a Southern Belle without an awesome porch? I have so many memories of being on the porch with my NaNa and I had hopes of sharing long talks with her on my porch. Unfortunately, she passed away before we moved into our current home. I still feel she is with me when I sit on my porch bed swing. I often have thoughts of us fishing in the lake or better yet her fishing and me sitting on the porch, because I’m afraid of snakes.

That’s one of the reasons I make sure my porch bed swing is decorated seasonally, so she can look down and smile. If you guys remember this is the DIY Porch Bed Swing my husband and son made for me two years back and it is still holding strong. If you want more on the DIY it can be found here.

It is my goal to spend a lot of time here this spring and to enjoy a nice glass of wine or one of my favorite bourbons occasionally. I don’t usually spend a lot of time here when summer hits, because the porch swing is lake-facing and typically the snakes are on the move. A story for another day. So on to the spring refresh.

So what updates did I do? I added a fabulous new planter and potted a lemon tree. Now for a little secret…can you believe this tree is fake? I also flipped my rug to the other side and it is giving the porch a new life. This year it doesn’t look like we will have to do anything to the porch swing cushions; they held up well after we repainted the fabric last year.

I hope this brings you all some inspiration to get spring ready! As always thank you for your support it means the world to me. Omniley

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DIY Floral Arrangement

Greetings. We are deep into the 1st month of 2022 and it’s been a hectic one for me. I have been wanting to try my hand at floral arrangements for a while and I’m so happy I did. I have had the compote for about a month now and was a bit decisive on whether I wanted to try live or faux flowers. I guess you can tell I used faux, but I love the way it turned out.

It was a little difficult to start off with because I thought I had chicken wire but realized after a quick google it was not…I’m not sure what kind of wire I found in our shed. So I ended up making a grid with gorilla glue tape. Next take I will use either actual chicken wire or florist foam block and I will be sure to do a step-by-step tutorial. Meanwhile for now I will link the compote and other items I used. I ended up spending right under $90 for this arrangement including the compote and flowers. I hope this post inspires you to try whatever you have on your list to try. It feels amazing when you finish it. Be Well-Omniley

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Mardi Gras Decor & All

Greetings. I hope this post finds you well. A good friend once told me” a second on the lips and a lifetime on the hips”. I definitely find this true for traditional king cake for myself! I usually make a keto version, but this year has already been in full swing for me. I love that my local Oak Point offers all its flavors in a petite version and they bake them in-house daily. I’m not sure if the ship yet, but I have listed below some local bakeries that definitely ship.