A small console makeover

I've had this small console table a long time - ( I searched for a mate for it forever because the dimensions would have been great for end tables - I LOVE large end tables in a bedroom )
It was in terrible shape when I got it - it had sustained water damage and the bottom veneer was literally falling apart..................I think this may have been the first piece that I actually performed surgery on.

It was black until a week ago - when I decided to put the secretary that was there in the living room -
but a black piece of furniture against a black wall was a no - no
And you know how it is - the paint was out and I was walking by - and the next thing you know it was getting a quick makeover on my way to cook supper.  Annie Sloan Pure White.

The next time I walked by it - I sanded the edges and painted the inserts Paris Grey
And here's where I'm fighting with myself - do I show  you what I did next?
Or do I just keep it to myself and pretend it never happened?
Nah - lets overshare.

Sometimes I get this notion that I'm an artiste and when that happens I get positively dangerous - furniture should run away from me screaming in terror at this point -

This is so embarrassing - really this is just so embarrassing and the strangest part is you'd never have to know about it.............why am I doing this to myself?
It looked like a pair of socks gone bad.

Ok - that's all your going to see - notice I didn't watermark it?
I kept imagining John's reaction when he saw this but he was strangely silent LMHO
The the next time I walked by I painted the inserts Paris Grey again.

And who knows?
The next time I walk by it I might just paint the inserts white again.........................or just get rid of it entirely because I'm sick to death of it already !

Later that night

John says - Why didn't you leave the diamonds on the table?  I liked them !

There's no accounting for taste
And besides, he likes argyle socks................

Before

After

And we'll just ignore Mr. Inbetween .........................

Have a great day everyone
Hugs,
Me



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A DIY Faux Marble Mantel

I LOVE marble -

And....................I wanted a slab of marble for the faux fire place we built for the bedroom.

You know, that cheap frugal DIY one we built?
So I decided a cheap frugal DIY marble mantel would fit perfectly !

We bought a length of wood for 12.00 - had it cut to fit the mantel ( and unbelievably enough there was exactly - to the tee - to make another mantel for the living room gas fireplace - which I'll age and stain )
It's a nice thick chunk - perfect for this project !

I gave it a coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Pure White - and then mixed a little Paris Grey with Graphite to create the " veins ": and simple painted them on the white - feathering some so that it was thicker in some areas
( with 2 different sizes of artist brushes - one pointy edge - and one flat edge )

The next photos are before I put polyurethane on it ..................but you can see it on the fireplace at least !

I don't have a tutorial because I was in such a hurry to get it done that I didn't stop to take photos - but if the truth be known it would be difficult to show through photos anyway - you'd kind of need a video I think.
( of which there are probably a million of them out there with far superior results !!! )

I just made my " veins " and brushed them out in places and left them in tact in others - the only important thing to remember when doing this is to bring your veins down onto the front and sides of your slabs for authenticity......................

Another mantel to decorate !  ( this was just thrown together to show you the finished product- the only thing I know that's staying is that wreath from Target ( 25.00 if anyone's interested ! )

And that's my final DIY project for 2014 lol !

Have a wonderful day everyone - I'm off to buy another one of these wreaths - I'm in love !

Oh and that perfect deer?
10.00 ( again Target )
You can see the tutorial for the actual fireplace HERE

Much love,
Me

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REMODELAHOLIC

A Vanity makeover !

Good morning everyone -

Well I finished it !  ( not waxed - but otherwise it's finished )

It's soooo difficult to get photos in a tiny space - I'm like an acrobat trying to do this !

I painted this piece in 3 layers.............( 4 if you count priming it ) but they were all very quick applications

Once I had primed it - I kind of liked that greyish color that comes from one coat of primer over wood
( those of you that paint furniture know exactly what I'm talking about ) those of you that don't paint furniture, it almost turns out drift wood ( ish ) looking.
Here's what I mean

So I gave it a coat of Paris Grey ( Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - all three steps ) and trimmed out all the edges with Pure White - sloppily actually - because I did NOT want a pristine look for this piece.

and then I made a " wash " using French Linen / water ( half - half or so )
I brushed the wash on - and then rubbed it all over with a paper towel - until it looked like this

and then I used a white wash right after - before it had dried -

Make sure your cloth is damp for this process so that the paint can soak into other layers................
And rub it all in until you're content with the results -
This is only paint - if you've used too much, you can simply add more of the darker color - not enough and you can add more of the white................

The end result was exactly what I was going for - aged layers of paint and washes.

I had this applique on hand and decided to add it to the middle drawer on top

Doesn't it look like it was meant to be there all along?

This didn't come with a bench - I have a couple in storage but for now I just grabbed a tiny one I have here after I painted it Paris Grey

and then I placed a faux sheep skin rug on it ( IKEA 14.99 )

and that's it !
transformation complete !

I can't wait for the little ones to see it - it's in " their " room after all

Have a wonderful day everyone !
I'm, once again, having computer problems - took me forever to upload the photos to this post -
Have to call my son-in-law over for supper LOL

Much love,
Me

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Do that to me one more time...............................

That's what my furniture says to me -

I can never get enough of a girl like you ♪♫
Paint me, like you just did, oh baby  ♪♪
Do that to me once again   ♪♫♪

I don't usually post on the weekends and here I am posting on both days - there's just so much going on with that little guest room !

Last week I asked if I should keep the armoire in the little room - or a dresser - most of you voted for the armoire - so I decided to go with the dresser LMHO - but I did give it a quick makeover anyway - and I do mean quick - as in 20 minutes or so.
Paris Grey - the white was already on it ( when it was duck egg blue )

This thing is heavy - as in if this thing fell back it would have killed me instantly.  With just my legs sticking out like the wicked witch that I am..................
So heavy that I should have worn depends when we lifted the top piece off to move the bottom piece ( too much information I know )
So heavy - as in I may have popped a blood vessel or two and I can lift heavy things believe me.

My Son dropped in for a visit and I asked if he could help John take the top piece off ( again ) because it wasn't level
He did it himself !!!
Oh my God - I don't know how he did it

Mom says - Did you pee a little when you did that?
Gordie says - Ugghhh Mom - why would I pee?
Mom says - From the weight ?
Gordie says - That's gross - you're my MOTHER - don't talk like that
Mom says - Like what?  Sheesh - it's just pee
Gordie says - You should have worn Depends
Mom says - I know that.........................

But I digress - you didn't come by to hear about my bladder after all.

It's a very light coat of grey actually - some duck egg blue is peaking through here and there but I kind of like that
And I left the white parts as chippy as they were - cutting the painting time in half I'm sure

 It's in the hall landing - and it's ridiculously too big for the space but that's where it's staying until I get the office done - ( and God knows when that'll be - it's the last room to do upstairs and I'm not in the hurry that I should be )  I DO have the perfect spot for it in the reading room downstairs - but JOHN'S t.v. is in the way.

But it suits the space better then the duck egg would have

It can always go back to it sometime in the future - no big deal-ee-o - right?

I DO love the color - it just didn't fit

( I'm writing that because now that I'm looking at it - I'm afraid you're all going to say I shouldn't have touched it ) 

You can see the original 2 part posts on the first makeover HERE and HERE

I dry brushed a little gray on the 2 interior drawers as well - very little actually.

Paint me - like you just did  ♪

Oh baby................... 

Do that to me one more time  ♪♫♪

Now I officially have clothes in my bedroom - in both guest rooms and the upstairs landing

John says - Are you sure you have enough drawers

Suzan says - I could probably use just one more 

John says - I think there's a corner in the shed outside we could probably squeeze one more in 

John says - It's too much - there's dressers all over the bloody place 

John says - It's like living in a shop

Yaddy yaddy yadda

I'm thinking of secretly taping him - so you get the audio

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone - 

Hugs,

Me

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A - you're a door able

Good morning everyone :)

I'm trying to figure out where I'm going ultimately with this kitchen of mine ..................

There are so many styles in it that I think it's in a state of mass confusion at the moment ..............

I have the clean crisp look of black and white - which definitely trends on the modern side

The window we're installing is French Cottage

I kept the little original window which is vintage

The metal shelving on either side of the stove is definitely industrial

and now I've gone and thrown in country - real country lol

Somebody stop her....................

I don't know whether to cook Cheateaubriand for deux - or grits

I'm not sure when or how it started - but I'm becoming addicted to doors
and I have to break the habit..............

But for now it's tucked into a corner - where I'll look at it for awhile before making any final decisions on it

Can we call it eclectic?
I like that word - whoever first coined it for decor dilemmas was a genius !!!

See that sign peaking out?
Here's a close up - the time is on a square of blackboard paint - so Margaritaville can happen at any time at all ( as long as I can find the chalk )

Here's an eclectic menu lol

Have a good one all - that's the last of the doors for now ( I have 2 for the Spring to put outside and than I swear to you I'm finished with them )

If you have a fetish for doors you can see 2 others HERE and HERE :)

See you all tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, you're only a day away
( I'll be waiting by the K-K-K-Kitchen door :)

oops - forgot the before

ASCP - Paris Grey mixed with Old White - half and half - dry brushed
and Old White for trim :)


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