Lightening and Brightening My Dining Room (In Progress)

I posted a poll on MCLF facebook page

What is the worst thing about painting?
a) The cost of paint
b) Picking a color
c) The prep work
d) Waiting for the paint to dry
e) Clean up
f) Not wanting to hang things on freshly painted walls
g) All of the above

I should have added another choice--all the aches and pains from climbing up and down ladder or handling a 5 gallon bucket of paint.

I used the leftover paint from my kitchen. So the cost and color choice were non-issues. I have an intense dislike of the prep work--mostly because I am climbing up/ down the ladder and trying to tape a straight line when every surface  in this house is anything but straight. The waiting for the paint to dry is me being impatient to apply the 2nd coat. Clean up usually falls to the hubbs, ha! And I have to admit I will hesitate before hanging things on freshly painted walls.

After the kitchen renovation, all the other rooms look... kinda cruddy. So it was time to roll up our collective sleeves and get busy.

GOODBYE moody Smoked Oyster walls, HELLO Straw Basket (even though it looks off white in this picture it is a creamy pale yellow).

I hated the paneling when we moved it. I hate painting it with almost the same fervor. 

A little sneaky peaky. It looks so nice--light and bright. Better to showcase some of my decorative pieces. This is my Ray Eyerly print that I won from an online auction a few years ago. I wish it wee an original...cha-ching!  I gave it a little more prominence by  by adding the barn stars. I fell in love with this print at first sight and I still love it. Ignore the ugly old wall thermostat.That is on the list of projects to move and replace.

Ignore the cat bowl and food dispenser. I had to temporarily relocate it out of the dogs greedy little paws. No window treatment? No problem! Just use the biggest canvas in your possession to cover  the window, ha! Actually, I don't mind covering this window because it has a view of the carport and the dogs bark less now that they can't see out of it. I consider it a win! I know none of my decorative pieces match, but they make me happy. There is no chance a designer would ever come to my house and proclaim my house perfectly designed. HA! That is ok because I decorate for me.

New curtains to cover up the can-tastic closet. The old curtains were mutilated by a certain brown and black dog named Frazzle.  Don't be fooled by his innocent appearance!

The Guilty Party

95 inch Curtain panels-IKEA

 I had to stand on the top of the paint ladder when I hung these curtains. I hate heights! My arms and shoulders were burning by the time installed the hardware, fitted the curtain rods and wrangled the curtains onto the rods. But it looks nice and softens all the hard angles of the room.

Ikea

Project List

• Floor repair- should we level or or build a platform? 
• Finish flooring  
• Install trim work
• Install molding 
• Install new window--personally I would like to eliminate the window since it opens to the carport. That would require re-doing the whole wall-frame, insulate, sheet rock or paneling, repaint and not to mention the exterior work.
• Purchase and install a new exterior door--unless I could have my porch conversion!
• Update the outlets
• Move the thermostat and replace with programmable thermostat,
• Install new light fixture, 
• Build and install closet doors  
• Clean, organize and reconfigure the storage closet--In progress  
• Dresser project
• paint EVERYTHING--In progress 

Until we can determine the scope of our project, refreshing the room with paint was a quick and easy fix. I hope to enjoy it for a while, before it too becomes a construction zone. Given our list of priorities, this project won't happen until Spring 2016. 

No dig zone and thinking outside the box (part 1)

I have an ugly corner by my  porch. Unfortunately, I can't get rid of it because I am no pioneer gal. I am kinda partial to my electric and cable. I  am not partial to all the ugly! All I want to do is hide all of the cables, gas pipes and meter. This one of the first things you see when driving towards my house. Yuck!   I can't dig down  to place post of any kind because it is concrete and there are gas lines. I also need leave access to the utility workers if needed.

Ugh...this is all kinds of ugly!

In a somewhat related topic, I decided to think outside the box in terms of some decorations for this little corner while I figure out how to hide the eyesore.

This is part of my inspiration. Any guesses as to what this is?

If you guessed Starry Night, you would be...incorrect.

Hint:

Now?

Yep-- a bowling ball. I think this undrilled bowling ball has been moved to every closet, nook and cranny in this house over the last...12 years. I finally had enough and decided it would make a great gazing ball.

See what I mean about the distracting ugliness of  the meter, cables and gas pipe?! I have no idea how long the bowling ball can stay outside before discoloring and fading. However, it is a free decoration for now and in the future I can always paint, glue stuff on or embellish in some manner.

OK back to the project on  hand...

I decided the quickest, easiest and cheapest fix is to paint the pipes and box white  to blend with the house as much as possible.

The first thing I did (after putting on gloves getting rid of cobwebs) was use a wire brush and knock off all the flaking paint and rust. I hosed it down and let it dry overnight.

I used Rust-Oleum Flat White spray paint. Definitely an improvement!  Ummm do you think I could talk the cable and phone companies into coming out and changing all the cabling to white cables? Hahaha. OK I am MAYBE just a little OCD about stuff....Seriously, do you think they would do so?  Or maybe--I can get white tubing to go over the cables (like used for computer cables)?

This is only the 1st coat. Ignore the over-spray and spiderwebs. (gross) The rocks will be raked and the webs will get removed...again before  a 2nd coat for everything. I didn't paint over the plastic cover or the serial number plate. I figured they might not be to happy with that. I don't know if I was even allowed to paint the pipes,  so I guess I will find out if I get a fine or summons.  Pay attention, I may be appearing on the most wanted posters in the post office. HA!

I thought about installing a  series of large sized colorful pots with a trellis or obelisk and potted with some vining plants--perhaps cardinal climber or black eyed susan vine--would help conceal this eyesore  this a little more.  The plants must be able to withstand direct suns all day as this is a due west exposure. Several pots would be easier to move than one large installation .

Not bad for a few bucks and 30 minutes of time, eh?

I am beginning to hate painting

That's right-I said it! GASP!  Is it  blasphemous for a DIYer to utter thise words?  But dang it- I am tired. And sore. And grumpy. The weather is actually nice and warm. All I wanna do is play in my garden. What have I been doing day in and out? Priming and painting...bahhhh

source

Not my house. My hubbs BFF mobile home. Which was/ is an unmitigated disaster. Two weeks until he has to move in and I am not sure we're gonna make it. Walls still need patched, repaired or some need sanded. The walls which are fixed I have been painting. Pretty much all the plumbing had to be redone. The floors are repaired from all the access panels from the 20+ leaks. Yeah the hubbs was thrilled with that-- NOT!  The carpet (bedroom) and linoleum (bathroom) still need to be installed. Laminate for the kitchen. The doors need painted. Lighting fixtures installed. Hardware changed.And all the screens need replaced. That is just the inside work. Maybe I don't hate painting. Maybe I hate DIY right now

source

Here's a pic of the over-sized living room. Sorry for all the junk, but it is a construction zone. The living room is HUGE! 23X20. 460 square feet! And lots of light. So that's a good thing.

Here's a sneak peak at the bathroom.The cabinet, vanity and tub are all in good shape. I found this moody blue mis-tint on clearance. (haha no pun intended towards the band The Moody Blue's) I still have a few area's to touch up. That will finished today. As soon as the light fixture and  linoleum is installed I can scrub everything down, hang the shower rod, shower curtain, the towel rod and hang the cheapo-o makeover  artwork . 

So that is kinda where I am at on this project. Even though I have a kazillion of my own house projects to do. But it is for a friend, so you do what you can to help.  Well wish me luck because I have to finish the bathroom, paint the 2nd coat in the 1st bedroom and get the 1st coat in the kitchen.  UUURRRRGH!!!!

Look for Less #1

Welcome to my very first Look for Less. I am going to recreate a look found in some of the popular catalogs, magazines and websites but on a budget. As for now I plan this to be a monthly feature.

Here are the inspirations. SO MANY CHOICES!!

Chrome 

http://www.laylagrayce.com $526

Hammered Nickle

www.thedesignerinsider.com $399

Brushed Aluminum

https://www.brocadehome.com $299

Polished Aluminum

http://www.zgallerie.com, $100

Hammered Copper

http://www.finecraftsimports.com $499 

Antique Mahogany, Bronze and Marble

http://newel.com, $18,500

Hammered metal Cocktail table

http://www.valuecitynj.com/Item.aspx?ItemID=1439566418&ItemNum=45205, no price specified

BEFORE

And here is my sad little table. Looking more than a tad worn. 

So which way did I decide to go on my sad little table.  Chrome? Hammered Nickle? Brushed aluminum? Polished Aluminum? Hammered Copper? Antiquey Wood and Bronze?

X The chrome table won't work because the shape is completely different, not to mention the finish will be difficult for me to recreate since it is mirror like.
? The hammered nickle  table is a contender. The circular shape and overall height  works . The base is different but the finish could be re-created
X The brushed aluminum table won't work even though they are both circular tables the overall profile is to dissimilar. However, I think the finish could be re-created.
X The polished aluminum is also eliminated. The lines are comparable but the finish is to mirror like for me to recreate.
? The hammered copper  table is a contender. The circular shape and overall height  works . The profile is dissimilar but the finish could be re-created
? The antiquey  table is a very strong contender. The circular shape and overall height  works. The lines are very similar.. The marble look can be created  with faux paint, the bronze finish can be replicated and the detailing can be mimicked with decorative trim work.
? The hammered metal cocktail table is a contender. The circular shape works. The height, profile and base are  dissimilar but the finish could be re-created

You would think the antiquey table wins but it looks a little to heavy and staid. So pick again. Here's a clue...

AFTER
Yep I went for a hammered metal finish with a twist. Soooooo (drum roll please)....

I think the nailhead trim gives it some oomph!

You can really see the texture here.

Wanna see how I did this? Check my blog on Tuesday (Feb 28th)  and I will give you the details including cost.  CLICK HERE

How did it turn out? Is it a hit or miss?


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Vanity be thy name

This little vanity table (circa 1930's-1950's) was given to me by my sister probably about 8 years ago. It wasn't in the best of shape then. It spoke to me so I kept it. It has been bounced around the house, room to room. It has been a desk, a vanity and a side table. For a brief time it was shoved into a corner of the garage--unloved, forgotten and sad. 

Once my daughter moved out, we had more room in the house and could envision what each space would become. I ALWAYS wanted a dressing room with a vanity. There is something so utterly girly and romantic about  it. Our dressing room was no longer a fantasy and then I remembered the sad little vanity. It was covered in cobwebs. And a few dead bugs. ICK! The legs were wobbly, it was aged, yellowed, chipped and gouged. The swing arms to hold the skirting are long gone (missing before I even had it). 

I started to spray it and didn't get a BEFORE pic. oops

 I  tightened the legs and cleaned off all the gunk. Covered it with a fabric remnant and pretty much left it. But it still seemed so sad. I didn't have enough space in the dressing room for the vanity so it is going to live just outside the dressing room in the little nook before the spare bedroom. You can see it (kinda) when I was working on painting the feature wall and my hallway.  Just please ignore the mess! It was a work in progress. Don't judge!

I finally decided it was time to dress it up. I gave it a once over with a fine grit sandpaper (200), tacked it off and began painting in a Satin White. I wasn't to concerned with the edges since that is going to get covered with fabric. Here is my sweet little vanity with a fresh coat of paint. Definitely brighter and lighter. Still a great deal of imperfections but that really imbues the character. Do you see the edge is riddled with holes. Doesn't it make you wonder about all the women who sat at the vanity through the years? How did they have it decorated?  Was it a few moments of quiet contemplation in the morning or before bed? Did they watch themselves age gracefully or agonize over every little wrinkle and gray hair? What memories were reflected in the mirror? 

Next I decided while it has lovely legs I decided she (yes it's a she) needed a little more modesty. I am trying to be very frugal so I am using what I have as much as I can. I had a round side table coverlet that my friend Sharon had given to me for free. I began by folding it in half  and then I pressed a very crisp edge using the iron on cotton/ steam.

I simply took the scissors and cut along the pressed edge and now I have 2 pieces of equal proportions.

I then turned over the raw edge to an approximate 1/2 inch seam and repeated the pressing technique to get a crisp edge.

Next I aligned the fabric around the vanity edge. I approximated the center (eyeballed it) on the front, back and side. I added a staple at each of these points.

What you are left with is some very droopy and ill fitting skirting. I then began adding small tuck pleats and stapled in place.

I repeated the process with the second piece of skirting. And here she is. Looking kinda cute.  Hmmm, I need to address those staples. Not very attractive.

I rooted around my scraps and I just didn't have anything that would work. So off to Joann's I went- coupon in hand. I came across some nice ecru/cream upholstery/ curtain trim for $2.99 per yard. 3 yards later I am back at home and wrapping the edge.

Hello my handy dandy (and ANCIENT ) glue gun!

Prior to attaching the trim I ran beads of hot glue on the edge of the fabric between the staple points. I want the edge very secure. Once that was set-up, I aligned the cut edge of the trim on center and aligned the around the side applying a bead of hot glue to attach.

I repeated this all the way around. Using the flat edge of a pair of scissors to press the trim into the glue. It is very secure! Once the entire edge was wrapped I added a little bit of bling to cover the where the  raw edges meet. Isn't it cute?!

Now to dress her up! I added my thrift store mirror.  Added some necklaces and lined up my bottles of perfume. I used to work for a cosmetics company--don't judge!

oh yeah, I added drapes across the dressing room

 A few different vantage points.

Oops! My bling and ruffles aren't centered--boo!

project recap
Vanity=free
skirting=free
mirror=$21.30
trim=$8.07
blingy accent=$0.29


I already had the paint, staple gun, staples, glue gun and glue sticks. I didn't do precise measurements. My finish isn't perfect. I wanted a quick and easy project. This could be upgraded by refinishing the vanity, purchasing higher grade fabric and trim. A quick search online and I found comparable vanities beginning at $25. If you have really good DIY skills you could make one using plywood and spindles.

I absolutely love it! So what do think?

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