Benchmark

I spied this little bench at my sister-in-law's house on a recent visit.  She had intended to recover it to sell in her upscale furniture consignment store Revisit.  I begged her to let me take it home with me.  Just kidding, I asked her how much she wanted for it and she was kind enough to just give it to me!

I have been wanting to try the Citrasolv technique on something.  The beautiful thing about this technique versus printing on fabric with your inkjet printer is that it is machine washable/dryable and you can do it on a larger format.  So I thought I would give it a go and make a cushion for my new bench. . . thank you, Cindy ; )

Using a graphic from the Graphics Fairy, I created a monogram design and transfered it onto some fabric (yes, the same zebra fabric (reverse side) I have used for all my blog projects - - -wow, I just realized I have really gotten a lot of mileage out of this stuff - - -good investment heidi ho).  The technique was really very simple, but I didn't have any luck with the copy straight from the laserjet printer, I had use a photocopy.

Bench AFTER:

It fits perfect between the french doors to our master bath and the french doors out to the balcony from our master bedroom.  But I am thinking this little bench would be awesome in one of the bathrooms. . .  who knows where she will land.

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Fine Dining

Patty had a kitchen table and chair set from. . .I want to say the 70's. . .not sure, whenever they were from I am sure it was before my time.  ahem.
Anyway, she was ready to kick the chairs to the curb -

but wanted to salvage the table so she gave me a call.  The table had really good bones - pretty pedestal legs, but the top was formica.  We decided to paint the table black, but I wasn't sure I wanted to attempt painting the formica top; I just don't think it would have held up well to card parties, dinners and the grandkids.  (plus there were four leaves that went with it)  Leaving well enough alone, we decided to paint just the legs.  I suggested Patty find some chairs that would be a combination of stained and black painted wood to tie in with her new table.

Table BEFORE:

     Table AFTER:

What do you think?  I think Patty did a swell job picking out the chairs.  And I love how the chair cushions really glam up the whole look.  Now she's ready for some fine dining!

yes, i said swell. . .and i lied. . .the before table and chairs were not before my time :(

Tray Chic

I have been searching to find something that I can glam up with a coat of chalkboard paint.  It's obviously a rage and I have been admiring all the chalkboard paint projects out there in blogland. . .I just had to try it myself.
Not willing or ready to commit to an entire wall or refrigerator or countertop or one of the other awesome venues (I see ceilings, floors, entryways, garage doors to name a few), I wanted to start small. . .like a framed chalkboard in the kitchen or laundry room or something.  When I make my mind up to do something, I expect to get 'er done just as fast as the bulb lights up in my head.  Never happens.  Couldn't for the life of me find anything to spray chalkboard paint magic on.
. . . . . . that is. . . until I was putting a re-purposed placemat (used under a fern pot in the sunroom cause HECK NO do we set a table at the Owen Crib) away in an ONLY TWICE (actually maybe once) A YEAR visited linen drawer.
Came across a Goodwill HAND-ME-DOWN serving tray.  I'm sure I've had it at least five years.  Stuck it in the drawer and pretty much forgot about it.  It had good bones, really cool aluminum twisty handles and rim, but not so cool fake wood grain MDF for the middle. 

This was it. . .what I've been searching for, right under my own nose. . .in my very own kitchen.

Why thank you. . .don't mind if I do.

Laundry Quandry

When Tim and I built our house in 2006 we had to leave certain things unfinished due to budget constraints.  The laundry room and basement among them.  Since then, we have worked on the basement, but never did anything with the laundry room.  We purchased a laundry sink and faucet along with all the other fixtures when we built the house and until last week, they sat in a closet in the basement. 
Tired of waiting until we can afford custom cabinetry. . .who knows when and if that will ever happen in this economy, I decided I could be happy with purchasing an unfinished oak cabinet from Menards - anything to get that sink hooked up.  I could glam it up and customize it myself with a little paint and decorative knobs.  Tim was on board with this idea. . .C-H-A  ching!  I'm saving us money (that's what she said).

So. . . here is the (small) laundry room BEFORE:

Add an unfinished oak base cabinet. . .

 

A little leftover Sherwin Williams Austere Gray paint (from the antique dining room buffet), pre-cut cornices for "feet", and knobs from Hobby Lobby. . .

Pre-cut 6' laminate countertop from Menards, 12"x12" mesh mosaic tile squares from Lowes and I now have the laundry sink I have been longing for.  I told Tim I don't think I could be happier. We were able to do all of this for around $250.  Sometimes being on a budget isn't so bad.  It really narrows down the choices you have and gives you the opportunity to get creative.  (I have to note that we did not have to make one tile cut - - the length of the wall is just under 6', so we just had to cut one row of mosaics off the mesh backing and the top border tiles fit across perfectly - - too easy!)

I can eventually add overhead cabinets and finish them to match. . .or not!  I don't really need more storage space.  I will add some decor on the walls eventually.
Oh, and Sully couldn't be more thrilled either since this is his dining room. . .actually I don't know if he is all that thrilled or not.  I just said that.

AFTER:

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Reflections of A Dining Room

I finally moved the Guy Buffet prints down to the family room/bar area where they have been longing to hang out. . .get it? (hang). . .sorry.

Anyway, I found a round mirror for the spot above the dining room buffet.  Hubs says I hung it too high, but I wanted it to reflect the chandelier. . . and who wants to see themselves pigging out anyway?
(actually, slim chance of that beings as we have NEVER eaten in this room. . .which leads me to ask myself. . .why am I even concentrating on decorating this room?  I really should focus my energy on the great room)

BEFORE

AFTER

I don't think it will look too high once I get some “stuff TBD (to be determined)” on the buffet.  I am so liking the glam of all the mirrors in the dining room that I am on a mission to find several more for the two remaining empty walls.  Welcome to Heidi's Glam-O-Rama Dining Room, but you can't eat here, it's just a place for reflection. . .get it?. . .sorry.  Beautiful by candlelight at night. . .darned if I can get a decent photo.

Craigslist Dresser Makeover

UPDATE!  SOLD FOR $500 AT REVISIT!

Before:

This is the dresser I got to keep me out of trouble during my holiday break from work.
It was a $50 Craigslist find.  I really didn't have a space in mind for it. . .I didn't think it
would fit in anywhere. . .I just got it because I thought it had good bones. . .and I needed a project.

During:

I used a combination of Silver Sage metallic paint and Bronze glaze over my SW Austere Gray.  To erase the brush marks I used a dry roller over it all.  I thought about distressing in areas, but thought it would look more formal to leave it alone.
 
After:

LOOK - - it fits perfect on my diagonal dining room wall!  What do you think?  Can I keep him?
My house lacks many accessories mostly because we don't have many furnishings.  But now that I am slowly adding pieces I can start picking up accessories to add more interest.  (but not too many - - have I mentioned I don't care for clutter. . .or dusting?)  I am thinking a few apothecary jars and maybe a tall rectangular mirror on the wall. . .but I'm up for suggestions. . .

What Is It?

Beats me.  Oddly, this Goodwill find was hollow like a vase, but only about 6 inches of it's total height was hollow; the bottom 2/3 was solid wood.  I guess it could have been a taper candle holder, but more than half of your candle would be swallowed up in the deep hollow.  I guess you could have put fake flowers in it (yuck). . .or use it to clobber an intruder. . .it was Heidi. . .in the kitchen. . .with the big, heavy wooden Goodwill thing.  (yes, I played Clue as a kid)

Anyway, I saw potential so I plugged up the hole and whipped out a can of glam.
A little sanding over the carvings, slapped on a little stain and. . . .

now I have a pillar holder for my sunroom.  Thanks, Nanc!  ; )