Showing posts with label grey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grey. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Front Door Makeover

Good morning all !

I'm in the process of giving the front porch a makeover - and it all started with the door.
It's the first room people see when they step inside and it looked awful - seriously embarrassing - peeling walls - the window frames are the tiniest flimsiest ones I've ever seen ( we didn't even need a crowbar to remove them - a little flick of a screwdriver and down they fell ) 

I started with the front door.
The interior of the front door actually because the exterior may be going red.



It's a nice front door - but it's seen better days now - someone must have shellacked it back in the day because it was peeling off in long strips - and was very shiny
It's newer to the house................I'm guessing probably the 80's or 90's - but the stain was a reddish color
( not the orange from the 70's but a close runner up ) 


Even John didn't like it - wood lover that he is ( John Wood is his name - loving wood is his game )
But to be honest had I had the energy it would have required I would have sanded it all down and stained it a brown that I actually liked - but I simply don't have that kind of energy lately.................


The color is more in keeping with the interior of the house ( greys and whites )
And the stained glass shows up more now that it's painted - it kind of all blended in before

and for some reason that I can't quite understand - even the molding/panelling seems to be more pronounced now


And now can I share that every single room we step into to redo is like a nightmare from hell?
Which is why I don't have much energy left a year and a half later?
Well those that follow know that - but it's disheartening that nothing goes easy here - so an easy fix like the door is such a welcome project !


In the late afternoon the stained glass stands out even more


Want to see the damage on the walls?




And that's because there was never any heating installed in this front porch..................why anyone would install drywall and not add heating - here in Montreal -  is beyond anything I can figure out - we're lucky we didn't have ice on the walls  ( it was that cold )
I think they had it done just before they sold the house - so that it would look in decent shape -
Anyway time to fix it all and install heating................and change the windows in the fall for that matter.

I've also started painting out the wood trim - this house was decked out like a ski lodge - and when I say wood trim I say it very lightly - it's mostly that cheap panelling that was so common in the 60's ...........
They covered absolutely everything in it ...................
Except the toilets - bathtubs and sinks.



I ordered the foam from Amazon - and have been cutting it down to size to fit on the built in storage benches
( which I LOVE having ) the benches are going the same grey as the door - everything else is going WHITE
WHITE WHITE WHITE WHITE WHITE !
I'm going to turn this Apres - Ski house into a cottage if it kills me !!!

And that's what I'll be doing this week :)
If I don't post again it's because it actually did kill me


Have a wonderful day !!!
I think I'll spend a couple of hours in the pool before I tackle this room again :)

( I used Behr Porch and Patio paint - in a satin finish ( because I've used it on floors and it's held up incredibly well )


Hugs,
Me,



LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !

THE DIY DREAMER                                              HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS             NO MINIMALIST HERE
LIVE LAUGH ROWE                                             FEEDING BIG
FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE                          MY TURN FOR US
MY ROMANTIC HOME                                        THE PIN JUNKIE
SIMPLE NATURE DECOR                                    THE SHABBY NEST
LADY BEHIND THE CURTAIN                            VINTAGE PAINT & MORE
KEEPING IT SIMPLE                                             ART IS BEAUTY
TIP JUNKIE

Saturday, July 4, 2015

ALL IN THE FAMILY ( a tale of 2 changing tables )


DRESSER TO CHANGING TABLE

A long - long time ago ( when the earth was green ) 
There was the prettiest bedroom set that you've ever seen....................

But that really was a long time ago - ( I'm trying to remember back to the exact year but I'm thinking maybe 43 years ago - this bedroom set belonged to my nephew John and then his sister - my niece, Joie.
This is the only pic I have of the before - that my daughter sent me from her Dad's.

Lindsay says - Do you think this set would work for Evan, Mom?
Mom says - No - not at all - it's far too feminine Lindsay 
Lindsay says - Well Dad's going to put it on the curbside - why don't you take it - fix it up and sell it?
Mom says - I have too many things - I'm drowning - I can't take it.

But you know - this piece has memories of the sweetest little girl - and I couldn't - I just couldn't let it be put out in the trash.


and so I told them I'd take it ......................
It's a high end piece - the company is no longer in business because people have just stopped spending that type of money on furniture - so not only is it sturdy and still in incredible shape - it's now irreplaceable as well.

In the meantime I found this on line that I would redo for Evan.


Fast forward a little and the bedroom set arrived at my door - in perfect condition EXCEPT it had been left outside in the pouring rain - one on top of the other and the tops had become very damaged.


 John sanded the tops down and in no time at all THEY CAME OUT LIKE THIS !!!


That's what quality furniture will get you :)
I've never had such an effortless ( well this was completely effortless for me because John did the sanding )
result from sanding down the top of a dresser !

And a thought was born....................if I stained the top dark


And painted it grey - using ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT ™ - Graphite and Pure White mixed to make a custom color - which is just a little deeper than Paris Grey actually ) and spray painted the gold handles in pewter -  then maybe - just maybe it wouldn't look too feminine at all !



GIRLS DRESSER TO BOYS WITH PAINT


And that's how Evan - before he's even made his entry into the world - ended up with 2 changing tables.
We ( in our infinite wisdom ) have decided that this one will go upstairs in his room - and the second one I found will stay downstairs so that Ashley doesn't have to run up and down all day.

( I changed my kids diaper's on my bed - their crib - the couch - the floor - the bathroom counter - wherever there was a flat surface - I never even thought to have a special designated place to do such a thing - but that was then and this is now I suppose - oh the hardships I endured LOL !!! )


Sadly there's no room for the desk in his room .....................but at the end of the day the dresser has stayed in the family - and that kind of makes it priceless in my eyes :)

Have a wonderful day everyone !
Hugs,
Me - Lolli - AKA


LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !

BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                                CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT
YESTERFOOD                                                                  AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY
KATHE WITH AN E                                                         HOMESTORIES A TO Z
FLUSTER BUSTER                                                           SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE
MY SALVAGED TREASURES                                        HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
NO MINIMALIST HERE                                                  LIVE LAUGH ROWE
FEEDING BIG                                                                   FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE
SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE                                              MY TURN FOR US
THE PIN JUNKIE                                                             MY ROMANTIC HOME
SIMPLE NATURE DECOR                                              MISS MUSTARD SEED
THE SHABBY NEST                                                        LADY BEHIND THE CURTAIN
VINTAGE PAINT & MORE                                     DWELLINGS THE HEART OF THE HOME
KEEPING IT SIMPLE

Thursday, May 21, 2015

A home for a Rocking Horse ( vintage rocking horse makeover )

Vintage Rocking Horse - Painted

There's a rocking horse who's on his own
by the downsatairs landing he sits all alone


He's chipped and nicked and feeling sad
Remembering all the fun he once had


He wonders why no one looks his way
He wonders why little boys never stay


It's hard for a rocking horse, you know
For try as they may, they just never grow


They end up in thrift stores and sometimes much worse
That's just the fate of the Rocking Horse curse


When all it would take from finish to start
Is to look very closely for the Rocking Horse heart


They all have one buried deep in their wood
And they'd show them to you if only they could


But if you look closely - sometimes late at night
You'll hear it - and see it - oh what a delight


And they dream of a time ( or that's what they say )
When a child hopped on them and galloped away


Galloping, rocking, and being held tight
By someone who loved them with all of their might


So next time you see one  ( and if he's alone )
Run as fast as you can, pick him up, take him home


Clean him and brush him even paint if you can
And present him with flourish to your own little man........................


Cuz when all's said and done & push comes to shove
They only need paint..............................
                                             And a whole lot of love.


To Evan
( your presence is more anticipated than words can express )
Love,  Lolli & Pop
xoxo

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Pure White and Graphite to customize the Grey ( roughly half & half )
and Emperor's Silk for the Red trim..................
My soon to be Grandson inspired the words
And even though his tail has not been stapled on yet...................we can say he's done, right
The " funnest " piece of furniture I've ever painted !
So much so that I'm on the lookout for another one as I post this :)

Have a wonderful day everyone !
Much love
Me,
Lolli
AKA



LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES!

THE SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE                                  FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE
TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS                           MY TURN FOR US
MY ROMANTIC HOME                                              MISS MUSTARD SEED
THE SHABBY NEST                                                    CLASSY CLUTTER
LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE                                   IT'S OVERFLOWING
DWELLINGS - THE HEART OF YOUR HOME         THE ALTERED PAST
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                            COASTAL CHARM
SAND & SISAL                                                     CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT
AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY                                      KATHE WITH AN E
HOMESTORIES A TO Z                                               FLUSTER BUSTER
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                                       KNICK OF TIME
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON                    FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
NO MINIMALIST HERE                                              I GOTTA CREATE
IVY & ELEPHANTS                                              THE 36TH AVENUE
DIY SHOWOFF                                                            I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR

A home for a Rocking Horse ( vintage rocking horse makeover )

Vintage Rocking Horse - Painted

There's a rocking horse who's on his own
by the downsatairs landing he sits all alone


He's chipped and nicked and feeling sad
Remembering all the fun he once had


He wonders why no one looks his way
He wonders why little boys never stay


It's hard for a rocking horse, you know
For try as they may, they just never grow


They end up in thrift stores and sometimes much worse
That's just the fate of the Rocking Horse curse


When all it would take from finish to start
Is to look very closely for the Rocking Horse heart


They all have one buried deep in their wood
And they'd show them to you if only they could


But if you look closely - sometimes late at night
You'll hear it - and see it - oh what a delight


And they dream of a time ( or that's what they say )
When a child hopped on them and galloped away


Galloping, rocking, and being held tight
By someone who loved them with all of their might


So next time you see one  ( and if he's alone )
Run as fast as you can, pick him up, take him home


Clean him and brush him even paint if you can
And present him with flourish to your own little man........................


Cuz when all's said and done & push comes to shove
They only need paint..............................
                                             And a whole lot of love.


To Evan
( your presence is more anticipated than words can express )
Love,  Lolli & Pop
xoxo

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Pure White and Graphite to customize the Grey ( roughly half & half )
and Emperor's Silk for the Red trim..................
My soon to be Grandson inspired the words
And even though his tail has not been stapled on yet...................we can say he's done, right
The " funnest " piece of furniture I've ever painted !
So much so that I'm on the lookout for another one as I post this :)

Have a wonderful day everyone !
Much love
Me,
Lolli
AKA



LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES!

THE SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE                                  FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE
TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS                           MY TURN FOR US
MY ROMANTIC HOME                                              MISS MUSTARD SEED
THE SHABBY NEST                                                    CLASSY CLUTTER
LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE                                   IT'S OVERFLOWING
DWELLINGS - THE HEART OF YOUR HOME         THE ALTERED PAST
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                            COASTAL CHARM
SAND & SISAL                                                     CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT
AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY                                      KATHE WITH AN E
HOMESTORIES A TO Z                                               FLUSTER BUSTER
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                                       KNICK OF TIME
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON                    FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
NO MINIMALIST HERE                                              I GOTTA CREATE
IVY & ELEPHANTS                                              THE 36TH AVENUE
DIY SHOWOFF                                                            I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR
ORGANIZED 31                                                           ANDERSON & GRANT
GIGGLES GALORE                                                      THE GIRL CREATIVE