Project- Mirror molding

Arrgggh Pinterest. Ok here's the inspiration link.

Mirror molding = classy

We bought 3 inch pre-primed molding at Lowes, a miter box (like $4.50), latex paint, mirror mastik, and paint-able caulk.

Measured mirror dimensions and cut the molding at 45 degree angles. Dry fit onto mirror. Paint the front and the back of the molding the color of your choosing with latex paint (some of the back reflects when it is glued on). Let dry thoroughly. Then apply mirror mastik and set into place. I also taped the pieces together with blue painters tape for extra support. Caulk the corner seams and repaint the caulked areas.

 Note the back side of the molding is painted. You don't want to see unfinished wood or primer in the reflection when it is glued up.

 We chose to go with off white in the master to match the other trim around the window. This picture was taken during the measurement stage- ignore the grinning goofball. He can't help it.

Room Design- Living Room

So this post will show some features of my living room as it has progressed over the months. I'm not sure the living room is ever finished, but I sure do like the direction I'm headed.

I have a bit of a love affair with all things zombie so when I found this poster in chartreuse-I knew it had to be mine! I love to display my Ina Garten cookbooks- she does such a great job of designing them-they look like art! The bird votives are lovingly carried back from CB2 in Chicago by great friends (adam + steph).

 

Projects- Canvas Paint Lettering

I blame Pinterest for this. All these people were drawing intricate designs on canvas freehand and the final project turned out terrific. Well I can't freehand any design or even simple letters, so my way of doing this project took a bit more time...

I bought white puff paint from Hobby Lobby (~$3.99) and another canvas. I mixed the green color from a combo of pure yellow, white and apple green. First, I printed out the lyrics to "Xanadu" by Rush on computer paper.  Then I slid this paper under parchment paper and traced the letters underneath with puff paint. I waited about 8 hrs and peeled lettering off parchment and then modge podged it onto my painted canvas. Then I gave the whole canvas a finishing coat of modge podge. 

Yeah it took some time, but the lyrics were important to us (dog's name is Xanadu) and I did love the lettering font.

 

Project- Refinish Nightstand

Refinishing a nightstand for master bedroom is a pretty simple task.

I bought this ugly old nightstand from Craigslist and the top was covered in watermarks and water stains. Since I hated the wood tone, that didn't bother me one bit. 

I went to Lowes and purchased a variety pack of sandpaper with grits ranging from 60-200 (~$6), a sanding block (about $3), a quart of Tiffany Blue paint in high gloss (not the actual name of the color) from Valspar, and a replacement glass knob ($3.99)

I lightly sanded the top, front and sides but didn't worry overmuch about doing a great job on the legs.

Two coats later...TA DA!

Yes, this will be quite nice. Thanks to Nate Berkus who taught me only to buy silver frames.

 

Project- Canvas Crayon Art

So I saw someone pin this on Pinterest and I was intrigued with the idea. I just wanted to see if I could pull off this simple project. 

I got a 64 count box of crayons and taped them to a large narrow piece of cardboard. I also needed canvas and hairblower. You can tape whatever crayon color combo you want to the cardboard and then hold above the canvas (kinda angled in the air) and let the hot air rip. Probably should do this outside in the grass or else on a drop cloth- there is some paint spray/collateral damage...

You can produce narrow drips or the more spread out sections like the green below.

I think I'll keep it up for a little while. It does make me smile when I walk by it!

Room Design- Office

The office/3rd bedroom was a design challenge because it needed to serve many functions. Without a basement, any sewing/crafting/work from home/exercise was relegated to the new office. When we first moved in, we had 3 cheap bookcases, 2 large desks and 3 rolling file cabinets shoved in here. I told the hubby we couldn't store our elliptical trainer in the guest bedroom anymore so that too was squeezed in.

Pan to design inspiration: Urban Outfitters 4 x 6 clearance rug for $29.99. 

 

My hubby loves orange and campaigned for orange walls. After many Google searches, we found a lot of really ugly orange paint colors. 

Lowes' Orange ______. I think it's a reasonable orange color, but I wish my vote for turquoise would have won. It still may ;)

 We also decided to take the extra TV out of storage and wall-mount it in front of my elliptical trainer. It gets DirecTV and is my main motivation to exercise. Well worth the ~$35.00 Amazon.com wall-mount. We found the weight bench fit nicely beneath it as a bonus.

We got rid of the cheapy laminate bookcases and went to Menards to get these wall mounted solutions. Ry attached the tracks to the wall studs and we faced the spines of the books out instead of the typical book organization.

The hubby's desk. Needs some cord organization, but overall pretty streamlined. 

Desk (2 trundle components and glass top from Ikea, Craigslist for $150)

Chair (Ikea $19.99)

Room Design-Dining Room

This "wine bar" started as a 1960's buffet with 2 doors on the left and three drawers on the right. We learned a lesson about spray painting furniture. 22 cans of spray paint later and with the paint STILL lifting, we sanded it down AGAIN and re-painted with Valspar high gloss latex in Ultra White. My hubby built the wine cubes where the drawers were and we have wine glasses hanging behind the doors. Holds 24 bottles of wine!

 

 

I got a great deal on these frames from Michael's and filled them with pictures of my hubby's and my favorite things: Peeps and  English Licorice. Something about seeing colorful candy makes me hungry-perfect for a dining room.

Mostly finished dining room- sorry some of these pictures are taken at night!

 The starburst mirror was an AWESOME gift from my mom- totally finished off the space above my Craigslist/Ikea buffet that stores my vintage Homer Laughlin Gold Crown china. Topped off with my Christmas gift from Mom- CB2 glass candlestick holders!

The composed shot into the corner of my dining room- the tall Ikea hutch from my mother-in-law as a wedding present. Perfect to store my "ode to Ina Garten" white serving dishes.

Room Design- Guest Bedroom

Guest bedroom painting with Sherwin Williams "Essential Grey" in eggshell finish. It really is the perfect grey. Decided to go with the popular grey and citron/mustard yellow color scheme. (the fan doesn't stay there, just to cool us down while painting)

 

I was inspired by these pictures on Pinterest: 

I saw a similar concept on Pinterest with silhouettes of children for above the fireplace. Well, since my dogs are my kids, this seemed like the logical solution. I bought a double pack of 16 x 20 canvases from Hobby Lobby with 40% off coupon and then modge podged the New York Times stock section onto the canvases. I didn't want any pictures to distract the silhouettes of the miniature pinscher and the German pinscher ;) Modge podge dries clear and I hung these above the bed in the guest bedroom.

Mostly finished project...The blank window still bothered me!

Rug ($109.00 Overstock.com)

Bed (full size, Lillesand, Ikea)

The solution: Begging my dad to make me a plywood cornice board. We covered it in 1 inch batting and then stapled mustard yellow fabric ($5.99/yd at fabric.com) to it. Attached to the ceiling with L brackets to give the illusion of taller ceilings. Then we put white tension rod hidden underneath and threaded the curtains (I sewed them from this fabric, $8.98/yd)