Project from My Month 'O Paint

I finally got the entertainment center done.

Here is another paint project that I tackled in September.

I had a lovely little dresser that I got for a song about a thousand years ago.

It has been brown forever, but in our new house, it just didn't work for me anymore.

What? You don't see it?

Right there in the white circle. Yeah, I know, you can only see a tiny little corner.

That is the best before shot I could find. You all are creative people.
You'll have to use your imagination for the rest.

Now, before you get all "dont paint antiques" on me. Remember, I am no lover of wood. Sorry. It's just me.

I decided to go white because, like my oldest daughter says, I only paint stuff black or white. She thinks I'm boring that way.

After I painted it, I gave it some glazing love and now I think it is just fab!!

Seriously. Isn't it great.

I did paint the hardward oil rubbed bronze.

I just love it.

I love that the things I put on it don't get lost in a sea of brown.

One more angle. Here you can see the glaze on it.

I've got more posts coming! Come back anytime!

Oooooh the Excitement!!

OMG!!
I am so excited to be blogging! You have no idea!
My laptop has been on the fritz, my schedule has been insane and my house has been a disaster.

But thanks to a week long fall break, I have some time to sit, share and talk with you guys!
I have so much to tell that I am probably going to have a hard time. My attention will be all over the place.
I think it is ADD, but I don't really know for sure. I sure as heck don't want to offend anyone with DIAGNOSED ADD, but I just know when I have alot to do, or not even alot to do, I tend to jump from project to project and I am constantly forgetting what I was doing or where I put stuff.
But hey maybe it is just that 40 is approaching. I'll call it ADD though, not age.

By the way, my "s" key is acting temperamental so if something looks weird, add an "s" to it.

Here we go.......

If you remember from my last post, September was the "Month of Paint." My main victim was the entertainment center that I have whined about for at least a year now...
no I DO NOT have my Christmas tree up, that is from last year.

I finally opted for black.
It looks SO much better. I'm glad I finally bit the bullet and got it done!!
I love these knobs. I am all about some polka dots.

Here she is in all her ebony glory.
I love coming downstairs to this view.


I just found another before shot. So here is another before and after:

Thanks for coming back! My laptop only has 45 minutes left on the battery so I have to get busy writing some more posts!!

And the List Goes On...

I'm not even going to try to apologize.
It's really too late for that.
It's kind of like when you meet someone and don't really catch her name then you find yourself around that person quite alot but you still haven't caught her name.
There just comes a point when you CAN'T ask her. You're supposed to know it.
Maybe that only happens to me.

That's how I feel about now.

Oh I've got excuses for not posting. They are pretty good too.
But I'm going to spare you all the details of my life.
You guys are busy too.

I don't have a complete project to share with you all. So what I am going to do is show you lots of my before pictures so you can see what I have in the pipes for the fall.

First up is Jenny.
That post I did almost 2 months ago (yes, my most recent post...) was where I did her bedroom. Now I helped her with her living room. Using her, I am going to bring you the "Evolution of a Bookshelf."

Next up is a small card table that has seen its better days.
Plus my girls are starting to outgrown the Disney princess theme (sniff)

I've been looking for a new chandelier for my dining room. I bought this one at a yard sale for $30:

I've FINALLY made a decision about my entertainment center. You'll just have to wait and see the result. (I do plan on starting it tomorrow.
So hopefully you won't have to wait until Juvember to see it)

I have dubbed September the month of paint
(painting my entertainment center and a dresser in my living room-which was completed tonight.)
October is going to be the month of organizing.
Here are some sneak peaks:

Mmmm, wonder what that is. You'll just have to wait and see.

I am also planning to reorganize my decorating closet. I thought I had a before pic of that, but I can't find it. Oh well, you'll just have to wait and see on that too.

That's all I've got. I'll talk with you all again soon...good Lord willing the creek don't rise.

A Master Bedroom Sanctuary

Remember me?

Should I reintroduce myself?

Sorry, folks.
Really I am.
I've been quiet for far too long, let's get right down to biz.

I helped my friend Jenny redo her bedroom this summer.
This was a good lesson in collaboration (teacher talk coming out-school does start in 3 days), working on a budget, and working with the needs of a client.

First let me say, shame on me for not taking a before picture.
But, like I said this was a collaborative project.
I provided some ideas, some direction and some encouragement, but Jenny did the manual labor.
Therefore, I was not present for the hard stuff, thus no before picture.

Step One:
Pick your inspiration. Never start with a color. You are locked in and it is hard to find fabric to match a certain color. Pick your fabric first.
Jenny found this awesome duvet cover at Target.com:
She knew she wanted black, white and some other color.
She wasn't committed to the "other color."
I encouraged this because then she could use the accent color on pillows and some accessories and if she got tired of it it would not be a big investment to change that accent color.

We kicked around some ideas for accent color. Red was one choice but then I suggested a
robin's egg blue.
That was the keeper.

Step Two:
Find the accent color. For me this was going to be fabric again. I was looking for something that had black and robin's egg blue in it. Not happening. Apparently that combination is not hot enough yet (brown and robins egg is all over the place). But at a favorite fabric store a few towns away I found this on a remnant rack (for $3/yard):
We had the color scheme. I knew we would need some more accent fabrics, but I could find those later.

Step Three:
Architectural Additions
This isn't necessary in every redo, but they had a beautiful bay window that was terribly misused. Perfect opportunity for a window seat. Her husband built one. He did a great job and it made a HUGE difference in that room. Here is the window seat:


Step Four:
Paint. The general choice was easy.
Jenny wanted grey.
omething that would be neutral and go with whatever accent fabric she liked.
The exact color choice...not so easy.
They had color patches painted all over that room.
It is so weird how something that looks perfect on the chip will actually look pink (or some other odd color) in the room.
Anyway, after many tries, they finally found one they loved and went for it.

I also need to mention here that she had a vinyl piece above her window. She was sad about losing it.
I suggested just leave it up, paint over it, then peel it off.
If it looked bad just paint over it again and replace it later.
It did not look bad.
It worked great:

Step Five:
Accent Furniture
Jenny already had the main pieces in the bedroom. BUT it was all 1970's brown wood. Super heavy and well made, it just needed some paint love. She undertook the job of painting it all black and it looks great!
She also wanted a trunk or bench for the foot of her bed.
I found one at an auction for $20.
had her take the fabric and get it color matched for paint.
She painted the trunk and her side table the robin's egg blue and with a little glaze viola!

She also had an amazing rocking chair.
I have never noticed it before, but when she brought it into the bedroom
I really wanted to steal it.
She made a slipcover for the seat
(that is another step to be discussed later) and here is that accent piece:
I know, you would have totally tried to steal it too.
I still might.

Step Six:
Windows
Jenny has that beautiful bay window, but man are those things tricky to dress.
We used muslin for curtains and they look fab.
Really, it looks like linen.
What is interesting is how they are hung.
She didn't want a rod all the way across and I wanted to soften the corners of the window.
I suggested using a PVC elbow and making a curtain rod that would follow that corner.
Her husband used the elbow, but then he took a cafe rod and cut it and glued the rod into the elbow and added the finials.
It worked so well:
Step Seven:
Accent Fabrics and accessories
The accent fabrics were such a stinking steal.
I found some at Hancocks that were perfect, but they were going to be about $20-$30 per yard. Jenny was willing to live with it, we were just going to use it in small doses.
However, we took a trip to Hancocks and lo and behold we found one fabric on the cut table (for $7/yd) and we found 2 other fabrics for the same price that we liked even BETTER than the expensive stuff!
I had talked to her about the pillows and showed her some pictures of some of the ideas I had.
I had planned to do all the sewing, but she called one day and asked to borrow my sewing machine.
She has never sewed, but she learned as she went and ended up making all the pillows, the curtain and the slipcover for the chair.

Finally the fun stuff.
The stuff!
She did not buy much for this room. I think some white pitchers, a memo board, a small mirror and a lamp.
The rest of the stuff was hers.

Before I accessorize anyone's space I ask them what is important to them.
We talked about some options for above the bed.
Because the headboard is swirly iron, something iron or something just rectangular just didn't seem to work.
She knows I am a plate fanatic and I think she was just humoring me at first, but she let me play with the idea.
All the plates are hers.
The floral ones are Lamoge (or however you spell that fancy French name) and the white ones are her wedding china.

I have already shown you many of the pictures of her room.
Here are a few more, enjoy:
Thanks for visiting. I promise I have other things to share! Maybe it won't take me two weeks this time around!

Y is for Yawn to Yikes to Yippee I'm Done!!!

I'm Back!!!!

So my week hiatus extended into two.
So very sorry.
Thanks for those of you who didn't give up on me,
I lost one follower, but maybe she will forgive me.

Y week:

Today is all about the fireplace.

Yeah, that one.
The one I have bugged you all about for a few weeks now.
What, you forgot?
Does "Oh my big ole fireplace, what should I do with my big ole' fireplace? Should I paint it? Should I paint it? Really, you think I should paint it?"

I thought you would remember.

Here is the before:

I liked my fireplace, but as soon as I saw this picture, something didn't seem good about it.

I tried to fix it:
I thought just glazing some of the bricks white would help give it a little bit of definition and depth. Yuck, it looked more 1970's than before.

This week I painted the whole thing.
It took FOREVER.
I spent about 16 hours painting this monstrosity and I still need to do another coat on part of it, but I am over it for now.
Maybe one day when I have nothing to do I will add that second coat.
(another example of my decorating ADD, impatient and ready to be finished)

Here is the after:

Well? What do you think?
Lie to me because I don't think I can undo this...
Actually, I do like it, but it is hard to have just a snapshot of your room and evaluate it without everything else that makes it special.

Oh, man. I have to tell you that this weekend hubby and I went to Nashville and hit every Goodwill in the area.
I found something at every single one (except the next to last one.)
I can't wait to show you all the goodies. Some of them don't even need to be remade!

Come back later in the week!

X is for X-tremely Busy Week

I'm bailing on you all this week.
I had an idea for "X."
Let's just say that birds were involved.
But, alas life has taken priority over blogging.
You are probably thinking "thank goodness she's not sharing."

I am going to have to force myself not to blog this week.
I may not even keep up with my blog reading.
This week is going to be nuts.

I will be in a training Mon-Fri from 7:30-4:40
My whole family will be working at or participating in Vacation Bible School this week.
(Our VBS is at night from 6-8:30)
I have a 10 page paper to write (due Wednesday)
and a final to take (due Wednesday)
neither of which I have started on.

Okay enough of the pity party.
I just don't want those of you who DO read my stuff to stop coming.
(That is a whole 'nother story, I won't share with you all those issues.)
So here is what you have to look forward to when I come back after my week-long hiatus:

Cutifying the bathroom
More shutters
Outdoor spaces
More paint issues

Now, just to show you what I was up to last night...

I have whined and pouted about my fireplace:


It's too dark!
Maybe I should paint it?
Should I paint it?
What color should I paint it?
What to do?
Well, I did something.
I decided to glaze some of the bricks with white paint to try to give the bricks more interest. It seemed like a good compromise to painting the whole thing.
Here is the result:
Yeah, I thought so too. Not so much a good compromise.
Kind of makes me throw up in my mouth.

Look like I am going to be painting the whole thing.
What is the issue anyway? I think it is the black grout. The orange colored bricks don't really help. I'm just skeerd.

Oh, and here is the other project I have going on this week:

This is Marley.
This was a total impulse buy.
We already have two dogs (remember Millie and Toto?)

I don't know what is wrong with me. I'm just a sucker for cute face.
Just promise me you'll be back next week.

W is for Windows: Part III, Exterior Version

Last post on windows.
Have I worn you all out yet?

I have told you of my sea of beige.
Beige brick, beige shutters, beige trim.
Such a sad state.
Here is a shot of some of my beige before:

Hubby made the shutters for me.
You all helped me pick out the paint:
I went for the darkest brown (the one on the far right).
Hubby painted them for me and then got right on hanging them up.

The lower windows were no problem.
I held onto them (sort of) while hubby used a hammer drill to screw them into the brick.
The tricky part were those second story windows.
Remember this picture:
The left window wasn't that hard, I was able to hang out of the window and hand the tools to hubby as he needed them. He still had to hold the shutter up with one hand and drill with the other, but it went pretty smoothly.
Did I mention that he is freakishly strong?
He is 5'9" but he is solid muscle, I was impressed.

The nemesis was the right window.
I couldn't get the screen out to help him by hanging out the window so
he had to do it ALL by himself.
Hold the super heavy shutter, the super heavy hammer drill and keep the shutter level. According to him my job was to hold the ladder.
According to me my job was to hold the ladder and protect my head in the event he dropped the drill or the shutter.
Do you see foreshadowing here?

The shutter got the best of him.

It came crashing down and barely missed my head by what seemed like millimeters.
It came to rest on the air conditioner unit.
Thankfully nothing was damaged terribly, it was all purely cosmetic.
I was a little miffed that hubby was not more concerned about my condition, but he was probably lightheaded from holding all that crap up.
Before I show you the afters, I have to share a conversation that reminded me, once again, that God picked the right man for me.

Background: we are trying to extend that 20 foot ladder to its full height. (If you are unaware, as I was, an extendable ladder that is extended to its full height is really heavy and really hard to handle)

Hubby: Put your feet on the end of the ladder while I try to lower it.

Me: Okay, hang on (I have on flip flops)

At this point the ladder slips just a little

Me: Wait, it's slipping

The ladder slips again, I get scared, back up, let go of the ladder and it lands on hubby's back

Hubby (in an insanely calm voice): Put your feet on the ends of the ladder

Me:(while trying to put my feet on the ladder, I am bracing myself on the ladder, which is on his back)

Hubby: (still insanely calm) Please don't push on the ladder, it is on my back.

Really, that is all he said.

I wish you could have been there.
Super heavy ladder, wife adding more weight by pushing on it and he says "please."
I would have been hollering like a maniac.

Anyway, here are some before and afters:

This is the view as you come up the road to the house:

See that missing shutter?

That's where the one that almost killed me was

(said with some drama).

This is the view from the back (the area that is under the deck).
That is one of the back doors
(we have MANY means of egress, most of which I have painted "Crabby Apple")

Just a few more pics, just because hubby worked so hard on the shutters.
And maybe just a little hard on trying to kill me.

One of the windows on the deck

Looks so much more welcoming!!