Refinished Kitchen Island

If you’re a DIYer, and you’re anything like me, then you have some unfinished projects around your house. I have about a gazillion. Well, this awesome fall weather we’re having has inspired me to finish up some of these projects. First on the list? Painting and staining this island. 

It used to house our coffee machines before I added the industrial shelving unit. Once I did that I decided to use this piece as an island. And I’m still working on painting that refrigerator. (Remember all those unfinished projects I was talking about?)

This little makeover was pretty simple. I used some white paint and sandpaper for the base. Birchwood white by Valspar for the first coat  and bright white mystery paint from my basement for the second coat. By the way, this was a free sample of paint. Always check your decorating magazines for a coupon from Lowe’s. Eight ounces of free paint? Yes please.  

For the top I used a DIY vinegar stain followed by a Minwax stain in Dark Walnut. You can read more about the vinegar stain here. It creates a great ashy finish. 

Then I added some simple bun feet using straight top plates.

Before

After

No Island

Island

I always thought our kitchen was too small for an island but it actually makes it so much more functional because it gives us more counter space to work with. It’s a small change but it makes a big difference. So that’s one thing I can cross off the list! What’s on your list of unfinished projects?

Linking up at some great linky parties this week. Liz Marie Blog / DIY Showoff / Rain on a Tin Roof / The Shabby Nest  / Suburbs Mama / Domestically Speaking / Start at Home

Coastal Eclectic Bedroom Chair

It’s so hard to leave the beach. If you follow me on Instagram then you know we just spent a week at the beach doing absolutely nothing. And it was awesome. This was my view pretty much everyday. 

 

It’s kinda hard to get back into the groove of reality but at the same time it’s really good to be home. Anyway, we did a little thrifting while we were there. I love thrift shops in beach towns, they always have the best stuff. While I didn’t bring anything home with me I did remember that I never really shared the makeover of the chair I bought last year at the beach.

 Yep, LAST year. And it was only 20 bucks.I bought it not knowing exactly where I wanted to use it but I knew at some point it would be perfect somewhere. How’s that for vague? This is what it looked like when I bought it. 

It was a little dirty and a lot blah. It was in great shape though and it’s really comfy.Once I gave our bedroom a little makeover I knew  exactly what to do with the chair.I started by spray painting it white but I knew it needed something else. So I broke out my favorite Purdy brand paint brush to paint the wicker.

I painted it with this  Martha Stewart Specialty paint in Vintage Gold. This is absolutely one of my favorite gold paints. It has the best shimmery gold finish. 

Then I recovered the cushion in this greek key fabric. I found it on the remnant table at Hancock Fabrics. I geeked out a little bit right there in the store when I found it. It’s pretty rare to find something this fab so cheap. They sell remnants for around $5.00-$6.00 per yard.  I got about four yards so you’ll be seeing this fabric again.

Then I went back and forth with these two pillows.

I decided I like the grey one best. I love the mix of the patterns in the neutral tones and I especially love it against the shimmery metallic paint.

So it only took a year but it did finally get a makeover. Sometimes that’s how long it takes to get something right. It took me the longest to decide what to call this chair but I think it’s kinda coastal and kinda eclectic. So there ya go. You may have noticed I started painting the bedroom. No more Bittersweet Chocolate!  I can’t wait to get it finished so I can show you how much better it looks. And cross it off my list….

This is where you will find me linking up this week. Liz Marie Blog / The Shabby Nest / Suburbs Mama / Rain on a Tin Roof / The Blissful Bee / The DIY Dreamer

Coral Chest: My Obession Continues

As my obsession with coral gets totally out of control I find myself wanting to use more of it in every room.  I am totally obsessed with coral. I found this chest at a thrift store and it was in great condition. It’s the perfect size for the guest room and it has a decent amount of storage space. It was screaming to be painted coral.

This is the before.

Once I got it home and started painting it I was pretty surprised to find this.

It’s from Pier One! I’ve never bought any furniture from Pier 1 and this piece is the real deal. It’s actual wood.

I painted this piece starburst orange which is a Benjamin Moore color but I used a combination of Valspar and Glidden paints.

Since I wanted to use the original ring pulls WITHOUT the plates behind them I had to make an adjustment. I used Plastic Wood to fill in the holes that had been drilled to hold the plates. Plastic Wood is perfect for this kind of job because it can be painted or stained.  Once it was sanded and painted there was zero evidence of the outer holes.

I spray painted the pulls with metallic gold spray paint by Ace Hardware.

Then I used Rub-n-Buff in gold leaf to paint these weird little accents.

Much better.

It’s perfect next to my little chair with the DIY spot fabric.

I finally have a little extra storage for my clothes which means it doesn’t constantly look like a clothes bomb exploded in here. So are you obsessing over anything lately? I would love to know I’m not the only one!

I’m linking up this week at the following AMAZING blogs.

Liz Marie Blog

Miss Mustard Seed

Suburbs Mama

Finding Fabulous

DIY Showoff

Give Me the Goods Monday at Rain on a Tin Roof

A Stroll Thru Life

The Blissful Bee

Domestically Speaking

Not Just a Housewife

Start at Home

 

A Little Somethin’

I’ve had this chest for-e-ver. With my new motivation to finish our bedroom I decided it was time to give it a makeover.

This is what it used to look like.

BEFORE

I finally painted it. White. I know, nothing super exciting. After I painted it I was kinda like, that’s it?

It just needed a little something else. So I added some nail heads. Just on the corners. I used the singles that I had left over from my wine cabinet makeover.

NOW

The top was pretty beat up and still looked a little rough after I painted it. It also has a lot of “worm holes”.  So I thought it would look kind of cool to add a modern element to a piece that has a “worn” and traditional look.

It was so easy. I just hammered each one in with a rubber mallot. I think that gave it a little extra oomph. Sometimes you just need a little extra somethin’.

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

Dipped and Fabulous

Hey there! How was everyone’s week? Mine was kinda busy but I did manage to get a lot done. Including this fabulous little table. 

Ok so I’m usually a little behind on the trends. This wasn’t even one I was really planning on trying but I just happened to look over by the fireplace and realized I had a black end table next to a black chair. Just seemed like a little too much black going on for one small area.

This is what it looked like after I painted it black but before I moved it next to the black chair.

And this is what it looked like when I bought it.

I thought this table would look much better painted white but I thought it needed a little something else too. That’s when I remembered the “dipped” trend. I also thought about how much I love a touch of gold.

So after I painted it with two coats of chalk paint in Balboa Mist, my favorite shade of white, I prepped it for the “dipping”. Which isn’t actually dipping at all. (If only it were that easy).

I measured how high I wanted the paint to go up each leg then wrapped it with painters tape. I used Zip Lock bags to protect the top of the legs. I punched a small hole in each one then pulled them up over the legs and secured them tightly with tape.

Then I wrapped the rest of it in plastic and secured it with tape.

Finally, on to the easy part. I sprayed each foot with two coats of Valspar Metallic Gold spray paint letting them dry between coats. All that was left was to apply two coats of Minwax polyurethane in a matte finish.  I decided to leave the hardware white. I didn’t want to take away from the gold. Plus I just think the white on white is pretty.

In case you didn’t notice, I used the coral lamp that I used to have in “the lounge”. It looks so much better on that white table and it gives that little corner the perfect touch of color.

Much better. Oh, and yes I realize the  rug is too small. I just wanted to cover the vent for better photos. It’s just a prop stolen from another room :)  So what do you think? Have you ever “dipped” a piece of furniture?

Hope everyone has a happy weekend and a fabulous Mother’s Day!!

Am I Crazy? Reupholstered Dining Chairs

White upholstery is scary. Granted we don’t have any children. Well, not human ones but we do have three furry ones and they love to sit on the dining chairs. And of course by sit I mean wallow. Plus there is also the whole food thing and my clumsy factor.  Well, white is what I really wanted on these chairs so I went for it. Life’s too short to worry about it. Plus, they’re just chair seats. Right?

This (below) is what I originally covered the seats with. I loved it at first, but got tired of it pretty quickly. Then, when I moved the dining furniture into another room the fabric REALLY didn’t work. So when I found some white fabric on super clearance at Hancock Fabrics I jumped on it.

I removed the old fabric with scissors, a screwdriver and pliers. Then, before I cut the fabric I measured the width and length of the seat to determine how much fabric each seat would need.  You basically just measure the width and length then add about six inches to each side.

Then I ironed the fabric and started stapling. I hate using the staple gun. I’m always afraid I’ll point it in the wrong direction and lose an eye.

Keep in mind when you go around the corners you have to kind of pull and gather the fabric so it pleats and you don’t get any wrinkles that show on the top.

Then I cut all the excess fabric off. This is when you cover the bottom of the seat with another piece of fabric so everything is nice and tidy. Yeah, haven’t done that yet. In fact I’ve only recovered one chair so far, which is why the whole table isn’t pictured.

I think the white fabric looks so much better with everything else going on in this room.

Pretty soon I will have this table and chairs totally finished. You can see what it used to look like here.

So do you think I made the right choice?  Do you use white upholstery in your dining room?

I need to know these things :)

Happy Weekend!!

Restoration Hardware-Inspired: Wine Cabinet

Hey there! This week I finally finished up a project that has been in the works way too long, but the important thing is I did finish it.

I refinished, and restyled, a wine cabinet. My inspiration for this makeover comes from Restoration Hardware. I am totally in love with their Zinc collection. This piece in particular.

I love this look on so many levels. It’s industrial, sleek and chic all at the same time.

This is the before.

This is what it looks like now.

It really wasn’t that difficult just time-consuming. Let me break it down.

I started by spot spraying it with Krylon Outdoors Black Metallic Finish spray paint.

Then I spot sprayed it with Krylon Outdoors Silver Hammered Metal Finish spray paint.

I used the same treatment for the feet.

Then I painted the nailhead trim with Rub n Buff in Pewter to give it an aged look.

To apply the nailhead trim I simply measured the four sides of the front then cut the trim into four pieces. The trim is so easy to apply. I found the best way to do it is to hold the individual nailheads with pliers in order to hammer them in. And you will definitely need a mallet rather than a hammer.

Once that was done I had to apply the feet. This is much easier if you use straight top plates. They look like this.

So I basically just decided where I wanted each foot to go then measured for the same spot at each corner and marked each one with a sharpie.

Then I used the power drill to attach each plate and foot.

That’s it! It turned out exactly how I had hoped it would.

Now I just need to fill it up! ;) So what do you think of Restoration Hardware? Has it ever inspired you to refinish something?

P.S. -Linking up at some awesome blogs.  Check out their stuff!!

 http://classyclutter.net/

madeinaday.com

sixsistersstuff.com

suburbsmama.blogspot.com

http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/04/175th-power-of-paint-party-popp.html

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

Furniture Placement: Getting it Right

We have a weird living room. I know, people say that a lot. Seriously I have rearranged the furniture in here about a zillion times. Well I think I finally got it. I decided the best way for us to use this space is by breaking the room in two by floating the sofa in the middle of the room. So we have a small TV area on one side and the dining table (which is just off the kitchen) on the other side. The part that I just couldn’t get right was the area behind the sofa. Until now. Thanks to this little grey table.

I found this little guy at my favorite thrift store just down the road. He was sitting out front, all sad and 50% off, just waiting for someone to take him home. Take him home, I did. This is the perfect spot for him.

This table works in so many ways.

• It completes this TINY conversation area I was trying to create.
• It’s functional. It’s a spot for a lamp which gives us the lighting we need while sitting on the sofa and it provides much needed storage.
• It’s the perfect little spot for me and my husband to sit and chat while having a snack and a drink at the end of a long day. (I call it the lounge.)

Also, since it’s right off the kitchen it’s the perfect spot to sit and chat with my husband while he cooks dinner, which he does a lot lately. I know, I’m a lucky girl.

It makes me really glad I kept those Ikat chairs. At one point, for some reason, I decided to sell them and I actually put them on Craigslist. I got a lot of e-mails from people who loved them but didn’t want to drive to Chattanooga from Kansas to pick them up. Yeah….I accidentally posted them on the wrong city’s Craigslist page. Oops. Good thing for me because I love them and they are totally working in our space now.

Anyway, this is what the table looked like when I brought it home.

I started by painting it with one coat of homemade chalk paint in a grey that I mixed up using the following three colors.

• Slate Brown
• Bolboa Mist
• Baby Seal Black

Then, after lightly sanding it I mixed up a lighter shade of grey using only the slate brown and balboa mist. I used the lighter shade only on the top, around the bottom, and inside the grooves of the doors. Then, after another light sanding I applied a poly in a matte finish.

I also changed out the hardware. I found some really cute glass handles at Hobby Lobby and they were 50% off so I only spent $10.00 for the pair. Oh, and I got the table for $12.99.

I love the way it turned out though I might eventually get a smaller table and move this piece to the bedroom to use as a nightstand. For now, I’m loving this little table and how this area has come together.

Before

After

Linking up this weeks at some fabulous blogs!! You should check them out.

sixsistersstuff.com

too-much-time.com

notjustahousewife.net

 

Metallic Desk Chair

Ch-ch-ch-changes….

So I have been making a few changes around here. I tend to do that a lot. Anyway, the dining room just wasn’t coming together the way I wanted it to and we NEVER ate at the table. So I thought, what’s the point? That’s when I decided to make better use of our space by rearranging some things. I moved the dining table, chairs and china cabinet into the living room and moved my desk and storage chest into the dining room, which is now the office. It’s all workin’ for me now. The best part? We actually eat at the table now. Love it.

Ok, back to the point. The desk chair just wasn’t right ever since I painted the coral stripes inside the desk and especially since I moved it into a room with such a dark wall color. I think I just needed a little bling.

So I painted it with two coats of Valspar metallic spray paint in gold. I’m really into metallics lately, especially gold. This spray paint is one of the best I have ever used. It covers really well and I still have some leftover, even after using it on another small project. I debated priming the chair first but I was afraid it might end up being a little brassier than I wanted since the primer I had was white.  So I just went for it.

Then, I used a staple gun to recover the seat in one of my favorite patterns, an animal print in shades of black and grey. I thought that would tie in well with the desk and the wall color.

This is what the chair looked like before.

This is what it looks like now.

I also hung a memo board I made out of a piece of corkboard and a shower curtain I found in the clearance section at Target. It’s a great spot to pin fabric and paint swatches.

Now I just need something to hang above the desk and MAYBE a small craft table for the center of the room. Turning this room into an office was definitely the way to go since it is a much better use of our space. I love it now and use it everyday.

P.S. I’m linking up this post to emilyaclark.blogspot.com. Check out her blog. You’ll love it! 

Old Chest Made New

Hi! I’m back with a project I finally finished this week. It wasn’t really that difficult it was just a matter of getting around to it.  Check out my new bookcase/storage cabinet/half chest. Ok I don’t really know what to call it but I love it! It WAS an old chest of drawers we were using in our guest room.  I’m now using it in my home office space as storage.

 

Here’s the story on this piece.

It is like a million years old. It’s a piece my husband had when we met and someone had given it to him. Like I said before, we had been using it here in the guest room but two of the drawers just started to fall apart beyond repair and the veneer was peeling off the top. Since the rest of it was still in pretty good shape I decided to give it a little makeover but use it in a way that wouldn’t require us to have to open the drawers every single day.

So I pulled the casters out of the bottom.

Then used a putty knife to peel the rest of the veneer off the top.

Next, I painted it with two coats of chalk paint in my favorite shade of white, Balboa Mist by Benjamin Moore mixed up by Lowe’s in Valspar. Then, after measuring the top two openings of the chest I made a trip to the lumber aisle at Lowe’s and had them cut the boards I would use as shelves.

Then I sanded and painted those with the same color.

This is the perfect piece of furniture to store things we need but don’t use on a regular basis like owner’s manuals, my sewing stuff and old photos. I’m so glad we decided to keep it!

*I’ve linked up at Liz Marie Blog this week. Check it out!