Wednesday, February 29, 2012

"Mint"speration

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. Lots of bathroom construction going on here and nothing exciting enough to share yet! I did want to share what has been inspiring me lately.
Mint!







I can see it paired with a fun coral print or gold accents.
Check out the minty-fresh nails that I'm sporting today at my other blog Sensibly Chic Shopper!!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Lisa, from "Lisa Writes" for winning this weekend's giveaway!
The winner was determined using Random.org:


Lisa's was the 6th comment and the winner!

And a special thank you to the ladies at Artistic Mishaps for making the giveaway possible! In case you missed it, check out their site to see what they have to offer.
I am going to attempt to do these giveaways monthly, so stay tuned for the next one!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Giveaway!!

Today's giveaway is an art piece by the amazingly crafty duo of Meade Davis and Elizabeth Whitehead, the ladies behind Artistic Mishaps. Here is a little background on them:

Artistic Mishaps is comprised of Meade Davis and Elizabeth Whitehead, two artistic sisters who love to create. One a 1st grade teacher, the other a physical therapist, the two sisters are a great balance of artistic chaos meets practicality and results. The two sisters paint, sew, refurbish furniture, decorate homes, create custom wall designs, turn junk into treasure, fluff houses, arrange flowers, and more! Whether you unexpectedly find yourself hosting a party, have a bare wall and want an inexpensive fix, or cherish a piece of junk that your spouse keeps trying to donate to charity, let us help you out with a touch of creative love. There is no job too big or small for this dynamic duo.


I love these sisters and am thrilled that they are giving away one of their pieces to a lucky reader!! Being a Mississippi girl, I am really digging this cotton painting on wood that they chose to give to one of you!!


Specifics: This painting is 13.5 inches high by 7 inches wide and comes with a hanger attached so you don't need a frame!
Check out their new and improved website to see more of their creations and everything else that these talented and crafty girls have to offer!! www.artistic-mishaps.com
There are several ways to enter:
1. Comment (once) on this post and tell me where you would put this in your home!
2. Become a follower of this blog if you haven't already!
3. Use the buttons at the end of this post to "share this on twitter", "post this to facebook", or "post about it on your own blog" and then leave another comment with the link to your post!
4. "Like" Artistic Mishaps" Facebook page HERE.
Each of these will count as one entry, so you can enter up to 6 times!!!

Details:
This painting can be shipped anywhere within the continental United States.
I will use a random generator to pick the winner, and will contact you when it is announced! Please be sure to leave an email address if you do not have a Blogger profile.

You can enter starting now until Sunday night at midnight EST. Good luck!!!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Styled console and new pillows!

While watching my MSU bulldogs fight their way to another loss last night, I managed to go into a stress-induced sewing frenzy which produced some new pillows for my great room. The carpet under the new console piece was fixed today, and the baseboard still has to be replaced, but I started playing with some styling anyway. And my new pillows are looking great with the prints hanging above, so I think they'll stay!
Some new pillows. Coral. Blue. Gold.

Here are some in-progress pics of the room for you...

Door/stairs to master being removed.

And now. Yes, I know there is a reflection on the pic. And it's dark. It was at night and I was kind of in a hurry. I am looking for some lamps to flank each side...possibly floor. I need something large-scale.
Another angle. The carpet was repaired under the far left of the piece where the stairs were, and it is a little noticeable since the replacement patch is brand new and not worn at all. But this cool basket did the trick to hide it.
Here are a couple more before/in-progess pics from another angle.




Still LOTS to do but such an improvement! This makes so much more sense in the house now!!
One of my fun accessories that I found thrifting today. These will probably all change up shortly. 5 points for anyone that can spot the severely overweight cat in this pic!!

Don't forget to check back later this week for our first giveaway!!!


 


 


Nursery Sneak Peek!

Here is a little peek at a fun nursery that I am finishing up this week! Once I take some final pics I will share it with you.


Look for the full post on this room soon!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Kind-of After: My painted dresser turned console

So, this isn't the final after shot, but I thought you deserved a little update on THIS table. Once the carpet gets repaired where the steps used to sit and I can accessorize it, I will give you a completed after shot!
As a refresher, here is where we started with this piece:

To see the entire "before" post with the in-progress pics included, click HERE.
Here it is after a coat of paint on both the piece and all of the hardware:

The picture to the right has a mate, and they are going to hang above the console. I also found them at the Habitat ReStore, and at first I was going to change out the matte, which is pink with a green inner border, but I'm starting to really like the pink, so it may stay.

Here's a closer look at the re-painted hardware.
The carpet guy is coming tomorrow so I'm hoping to get this room DONE very soon. I will be back with a complete "after" once that happens!!

Also, stay tuned for our first giveaway this week! I am so excited to be doing this and I think you will like what is up for grabs!!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Dresser Turned Console: part 1

Since my "Great Room" wall now has twice the space as it did before with the random steps and door gone, I needed a bigger furniture piece to sit there. I found this awesome dresser at the Habitat Re-store (if you have one of these, it's definitely worth a visit!) It came with a matching side table and 2 large mirrors (that I'm re-finishing for the master bath).

You can't tell from the pics, but the finish was in pretty bad shape...lots of scratches, random paint dried all over, etc...
But I loved the look and all of the little details, and it's extremely solid so I knew it was a good quality piece.
Here it is on the newly painted wall! It's just waiting for a makeover.
And this is what is currently happening to it. I bought a quart of this deep grey Sherwin Williams paint in a full gloss enamel. It goes on very thick but you don't need a primer because it adheres to the surface. It needs a couple of days to dry but looks great at the end!
For the knobs, I sprayed one coat of a Bronze color and then came back over it with Gold. When the gold was still wet I used a sponge brush to kind of brush some of the paint off. They are brass and I wanted to re-create that look without all of the crazy cleaning and polishing that would have had to be done to restore their original finish.
An easy way to paint knobs and handles is to stick them in some old cardboard. This helps keep them in place and gives you great angles for spray painting.
For the rings, I just hung them on some scrap trim so I wouldn't have to touch anything.
Stay tuned later this week for "after" shots! It is looking great!!!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

It's A Construction Zone Around Here

I thought some of you might be interested in what's been going on in the way of my master bathroom re-do. This really isn't so much a re-do as it is a complete gutting/expanding/reworking of the bathroom/bedroom/closet. I'll just leave it to some pictures.
This was the bathroom when we moved in. Yes, that's carpet...and a peach toilet/sink combo. You're really missing out because you can't see the peach tub to the left with a frosted swan sliding door. The wall jutting out was a stand-up shower. And the florescent lights pretty much round out this tour of awesomeness. Oh, what's that you see...a wooden toilet seat? Why, yes it is! Bonus points!!
The closet was about half this size and was across the little hallway that sat behind the picture taker. The hallway also connected the "Great Room" to the "Master", which was a little awkward. Here's that door if you ever wondered what it's function was:
That door along with the steps had to go. So it did.
Here is a view of the new bathroom/closet from the bedroom. That wall you are looking at came out about 3 feet and the hallway that sat in the middle got taken over by the closet. So, bathroom on the left, closet on the right. We were still able to fit a tub/shower/double vanity/toilet in there, which is great!
 This is standing in the doorway to the great room looking into the bedroom. Still plenty of room in the bedroom even after losing a few feet. You can see where the hallway was by the missing planks in the floor where the wall was. That pattern was the original closet.
Here's the bathroom(well half of it) after some insulation. Tub will be angled on the left, toilet where the big pipe is, vanity where the two wall-mount faucet pipes are on the right, and the shower in the left corner that you can't really see. This wall is where the vanity and toilet were in the "before" pic up top.
And that double vanity...we are working on that. This is pretty much how we got it off of Craigslist...it did have a top but that is with the granite guys since they are cutting a new pretty granite top for it. Glass sinks will sit on top.
It's getting a dark Walnut stain which is fitting since it is Walnut. The pattern on the doors and drawers is really beautiful and I think it will look great with the light counter top and tile floors.
 So, back to that door and steps in the great room. Here it is now (I know I'm all over the place with this post, but that's kind of how the house feels too, so just go with it). It will be so nice to have one solid wall! No patchy paneling, no random door and rails and steps.
And here is a view of the bathroom/closet combo after some sheetrock. This is again looking from the master bedroom. That door goes into the bathroom and there is a door right inside to the right that opens into the closet!
It's coming along! I'll continue to post updates as things change, and I'll show you some of the finish choices as well.
The flow and layout of the house is starting to make more sense with these changes, and it's exciting to see it changing!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Updated "Before and After Projects" Page

I have spent some time updating the Before and after page with pictures and links to easily access all of those posts. So take a minute to check it out It is right above the "search box" above this post.

Also, if you love being fashionable on a budget, and haven't checked out my new blog with tips and pictures of outfits, take a look! There is a link button just to the right of this post for Sensibly Chic Shopper. You can also follow along that blog on twitter @BeSensiblyChic!

Monday, February 6, 2012

My Office

I realized that I don't think I have ever posted about the office in my house. It is in one of the four bedrooms, and it was kind of a work in progress for a while. It used to be a walk-thru to the master as well as a home for the washer/dryer (in the closet), but we have closed up that door, built a wall and created a new hallway to the master that included that closet with the washer and dryer. So now, the office is a little smaller, but no longer a walk-thru room. And, the washer dryer is now in the hall closet as opposed to the office closet.
These changes will help in resale value because not only is the bedroom now completely independent, but the laundry is in a more logical place. And the bedroom has built-out closets so it counts as an official bedroom!
If any of that made sense to you, congrats because it's hard to explain, especially without pictures.
I only have one of the office "before", which was before we even moved in:
That door to the left that led to the master is now gone. And so is the built-in bed and the trim up top. I know you are all loving those bubble valances. It's not that it wasn't a charming space, just not functional.
We installed wainscoting to mask all of the ugliness left by the ripped-out bed. It made a perfect space for the desk! I left the bult-in shelves and they house things like fabric, ribbon, etc...
The lamps are $5 Goodwill finds. Their shades were clearanced out at Pottery Barn outlet. The drapes were $5 a piece at an estate sale. See what else I found HERE and HERE. The chair was $10 at Goodwill. It got some casters and now makes the perfect rolling chair!
I love the vintage drapes with the wall color. Seriously LOVE.

I know Sometimes it's hard to picture where things are in the house, so I thought I would give you some reference. This is standing in the dining room looking through the hall to the office. Maybe I'll show you the new wall/laundry/hallway in another post to give you a better idea of what's going on there.


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