Thursday, March 21, 2013

deal alert...

Today I ran into Joann's Fabric and they were just putting ALL of their
individual sample/swatches on sale for $2 each. I was racking my brain trying to think
of something I could do with them. They're 17 x 17 and could work for pillows if you
 wanted to add a border (I think pillows look better larger rather than smaller).
 The colors and patterns were plentiful, and mixing and matching
could have entertained me for hours.  
It was my carpool day at school, thank goodness, or who knows how much time
I would have wasted!
Here's the collection I ended up with, I'll bet you can guess what I'll be using them for.


If this totally overwhelms you, here is a tip:

Choose a few floral patterns you like in similar colors, any style works.
Don't fret, just grab what you like, you can put back what doesn't work.


Keeping in the same color family,
choose a geometric, small print, stripe or ikat, basically anything that's not floral.
 That's it!


 I'm using mine as napkins!
 Can't you picture a pretty table of white dishes set with all of these...


Have a wonderful weekend, sweet friends!

We're on spring break next week and the plan was to enjoy spring skiing with my boys. 
However, the forecast high of 26 degrees on Saturday and Sunday
 isn't exactly my idea of spring, maybe we'll hop a last minute flight out of here!

I'll be taking the week off, and will see you in April!  :)     



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

One Room Challenge...Bathroom reveal(s)

YES! We've crossed the finish line!
  My family is so excited I'm letting them back in the bathroom!
I didn't want them to mess it up, and they've been counting down.
   
A HUGE thank you to our inspiring leader and pioneer of the One Room Challenge,
 Linda @ Calling it Home, (formerly My Crafty Home Life)
for keeping us all on track and encouraging us. She's raised the bar higher than I ever imagined, knocking it out of the park with her incredible entry makeover!

I know you guys just want the pictures, so here you go...
(One more thing, if you're new here you should know I love diy projects, and all the updates 
to the bathroom were done on a budget with diy projects.)


    

Did you notice I said reveals, plural? In keeping with my indecisive personality I couldn't
 choose between neutrals and colorful. A sweet and wise blogger, Kathysue left a
comment, and suggested a bright look for spring/summer and neutral look for fall/winter.
My reply:  Of course! Why does my brain freeze when I'm working on my own projects?
It's why I always choose neutrals, a couple tweaks and you have a new look...perfect
for those of us who like to change it up!
                                            
Spring and Summer look...

                                          
I started by painting wide stripes in Powell Buff and Navajo White.
 I always justify buying something fun with the $$ I save doing diys. Thank you, Kerry Steele
for my new abstract! I love that it brought in some of the colors from my flamingos.
 Yes, the ones that were in the dining room, changes coming soon.
I used my favorite lacquer like paint treatment...again...to bring some life back to the vanity! 


I changed out the sconces for Swing Arm Lamps from Home Depot and added trim detail.
My Urban Outfitters Tiered Pendant makeover is in the Fall and Winter photo session!


DIY Valance and Roman Shade - tutorial in the works.


 I was tickled pink :) when I found these rugs on the clearance rack at TJ Maxx.
 I sewed two 20" x 33" rugs together to get a 5 1/2 ' runner.


The blue vase and glass plate were thrifting finds from long ago. 
I'm sure you weren't expecting a Costco recommendation, but I love fresh white washcloths
to remove my makeup, after washing these are soft and fluffy. $12 for a package of 24,
 split one with a friend. The littlest things make me happy!  

 


BEFORE



I'm so glad I tried it, I'll let you know how it holds up.
Detail boy asked why his stump side table was in the bathtub. 
Btw, you still have time to grow some wheat grass for Easter.

Fall and Winter look...


Pretend the tulips are fall branches. :)
I changed out the lively artwork, rug, and a couple accessories on the vanity.
I had all of the art, the flamingo print was a free image from the NYPL Digital Gallery,
We use an old umbrella stand as our wastebasket, that's the laundry shoot. 


This West Elm Chevron patterned rug in gray and tan will replace the bright one.


DIY Urban Outfitters Tiered Pendant Makeover



Detail boy also asked if that piece of wood was staying on our vanity. 


Do you have a favorite?

Thank you so much for following along, and your kind comments over the past six weeks.
I've been so behind on my thank yous to all of you, but I truly appreciate all of your
 encouragement, especially when I tackle something like the bath fixtures! 
  
I'm so anxious to see what these wonderful blogging friends have for us today!
Have fun checking them out!


Linking up with these fabulous blogs:

Stephanie Lynn @ Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase Party
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style WOW Us Wednesdays
The Craftberry Bush - The Inspiration Gallery
Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick April Before & After Party
Nita @ Mod Vintage Life - Mod Mix Monday

Monday, March 18, 2013

Nate Berkus at my Goodwill!!

I hadn't been thrifting in a long time and needed a fix,
 I popped in Goodwill for a quick cruise around the store last Saturday.

Nate is that you?? I wasn't sure, you know when you see someone
out of their usual surroundings and you question yourself for a minute...
had it been Target I wouldn't have thought twice!



Nate Berkus Round Lacquer Stud Tray, $30  @ Target here
Mine for $11, brand new with the Target tags still on.


I found a couple other treasures I couldn't pass up. To fuel my lamp addiction,
 this tall base for  $6.99, I may not keep it here on the kitchen counter, just trying it out
with a black shade. I think something light and cheery for spring would work.


And these frames for $6.99 each, they need spiffed up a bit, but I loved the nice depth.
Warm woods with a great texture paired with neutrals are a favorite, they may not come out
until fall...we'll see.


I left a happy thrifter!
How about you, found any treasures lately?

I'm putting the finishing touches on the bathroom, the One Room Challenge
final reveal is Wednesday, 19 bloggers, 19 reveals ~ inspiration overload!!
 I can't wait!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

painted faucets & shower enclosure...

Goodbye ugly shiny brass,
 hello diy painted faucets and shower enclosure in Satin Nickel!
My last diy for the One Room Challenge is off the list - woo hoo!
 I changed my mind last minute and decided on the nickel finish, the
gold looked a little too faux, instead of the aged brass I was hoping for.
For the full bathroom reveal go here.









I combined parts of two tutorials, I chose to use the same Rustoleum product that
Sherry from Young House Love used on all her hardware, she had great results, it's been
 over a year and they still look perfect. I used the procedure for the shower enclosure
(removing caulk and taping) that Kristy at Addicted 2 Decorating  shared on her redo.

PRODUCT
Rustoleum Metallic Paint & Primer in One - Satin Nickel
220 Grit Sandpaper
150 Grit Sandpaper
TSP  Cleaner as de-glosser


PRICE
3 cans Rustoleum Paint @ $7.28 ea = $21.84

PREP
Remove all existing caulk from shower surround, you won't get a clean paint
line, if you don't remove it. I found a razor blade worked best.

Sand all surfaces well, I started out using 220 grit sandpaper, and ended up using 150 grit,
 because it was faster and Sherry said you don't see any scratches after you paint.
 It's more fun if you have a friend to keep you company!




Clean debris from sanding and wipe with TSP cleaner as a de-glosser.


Tape off fixtures and areas to be painted and cover ALL exposed surfaces.


PROCEDURE
Just basic spray painting, 3-4 light coats of paint, following manufacturer's instructions
 for re-coating time, I waited anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour depending on what I had
going on.

PROBLEMS
Learn from my mistakes! I was impatient and applied more than a light coat in an
attempt to cover the area more quickly...bad idea...runs and drips = more work!
Let dry, sand the mistake away, and apply four light coats!

Over spray cleans up nicely with a razor blade.

I turned the bathroom fan on to help with ventilation, I'm pretty sure it contributed to a fine
 dusting of paint throughout the nearby rooms, it cleaned up easily, but next time I'll stick
with the open window!

When your doors are overlapped, don't forget about those hidden areas!
See the gold strip I missed...ugh!

Neither of the other tutorials mentioned this, but it doesn't have a smooth satin feel
that I was expecting. I may give it a of coat clear spray for a nicer feel, I'm going to try
 a sample.

It's really not difficult, but the prep is a bugger,
removing the caulk took a few hours (interrupted, of course). Sanding was easy,
and the tapping off took much longer than anticipated.  The painting was quick, but you
need to keep in mind you most likely won't be able to paint everything in one day.
For example, the track, you'll need to move the doors from side to side, allow drying
time and re-taping some areas.

I'll keep you up to date on the all important question...
how well does it hold up?


Thursday, March 14, 2013

patio perfection...


Happy Friday Friends!!

3.bp.blogspot.com

I'm so ready for the weekend!
 The perfect start...I'm heading to happy hour with girlfriends tonight to celebrate a
 birthday, our go-to spot is Simms Steakhouse in Golden, where we share 
plates of $6 appetizers, sliders with grilled onions and fries, and mahi mahi fish tacos
 are our usual orders. That's my favorite dinner, to share small plates.
My boys aren't into that! 
 Today's forecast is 72 degrees, which has me thinking of sitting on a gorgeous patio,
 that photo is my new inspiration!

Wishing you the best weekend!     
  

client project

You guys are GREAT!!
Thank you for all your encouraging comments that the ugly, scary diy will work out.
 It truly does give me a much needed dose of confidence!

I have a quick post for you today to share a client project I'm starting.
We're working on their formal living room that doesn't get much use, my goal is to
create a cozy space where they can hang out. The plan is a casual and comfortable library,
 but since the space is visible from the front entry it needs to be somewhat sophisticated. 
We'll be using Ikea bookcases with added trim for a built-in look.
Wouldn't a library ladder be the coolest detail?
I haven't mentioned it to them yet, but they're usually on board for my suggestions.

Dillon Kyle Architecture

passiondecor-de-marieclaude.tumblr.com 

decorpad.com 

I'm thinking something rustic.
Do you love them as much as I do?

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

one room challenge...week 6

Woo hoo! We're in the home stretch, I saved my ugliest, scariest diy for last,
I kept debating whether or not to do it. So far I've only prepped for a few hours,
 and haven't pulled the trigger yet. (I'll give you a peek at the end.) 
As my reward for thinking about tackling the ugly project,
 I had fun making decisions about everything else I could think of this week!

This has taken a month for me to decide.
 Can anyone relate to my little binge before the purge.
Gray rug or tan rug, flat rug or fluffy rug, pattern rug, solid rug,
natural fiber rug, cozy cotton rug??

White towels, Cream towels, Pattern towels, Monogram towels??

Swing arm lamps, clean and simple or a little detail?
Notice the Roman Shade...new and improved folds ...done!


A package arrived from the talented Kerry! :)



Gold frames, black frames??


Gave the trim a fresh coat of paint.


So, some of you thought this was our powder room, the truth is it's a main bath that
 two of us use, and the shower surround, and fixtures couldn't be prettier. I'm going to
paint the sink and tub faucets and shower surround. I still want them gold, just not
this super shiny 90's look!


The caulking has to be removed or you don't get a nice clean paint line.

If you don't want to disassemble the shower, this is the deal.

Keep your fingers crossed, and if it looks like a powder room next week,
 just go with it! :)

Go see what my fabulous friends have been up to this week!


  


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