My precious friend, Brian Berry, has designed a new site banner and logo for me! He is TOTALLY awesome and has done a beautiful job!!!
Thank you Brian for all your hard work on this! It looks WONDERFUL! At least from my computer....
If you every need graphic design work, email him at brian@anvilcustomgraphics.com !
He does AWESOME work...his T-shirt designs are the BOMB! (My daughter told me that "the bomb" is good! I'm trusting her on that!)
I love Pinterest...but it wears me out! Always such neat "projects"...and I want to DO IT ALL!
But there are a few nifty little tidbits here and there that are not difficult and require very little effort. One suggestion I saw was putting pool noodles in boots! Seriously nifty idea and since I am on my master-bedroom-closet-remodel-kick, this is the perfect time to do this kind of thing!
Just so happens I stopped by a garage sale this morning and picked up a pool noodle for TWENTY FIVE CENTS! They aren't a huge expense, but that was a pretty good bargain. One noodle will do two pairs of boots!
Just cut the noodle with a pair of scissors and stuff the pieces into your boots!
I'm not a big shoe shopper but I do pay good money for my boots...and storing them properly will add years to their life!
Not a big life changer, but a neat little "tip."
I think four days of remodeling my closet and painting trim has taken a toll...I am woooorn out. So today I will do a little coupon shopping! I HATE clothes shopping but give me a good coupon for shampoo or detergent and I am all over it!
So today I thought I would quickly feature some tidbits from past projects...framing memories!
We all frame pictures and diplomas, but frames come in all shapes and sizes and they are a great way to display a collection of things that have great sentiment...and a great way to decorate!
Today I got to wipe another thing off the dry erase board..."paint trim"
One way to keep your house fresh is to keep the paint fresh! You don't have to paint an entire room just to freshen up the room. Sometimes it is just a matter of doing a little touchup on the walls and trim.
First thing I would suggest is to give the walls, doors and trim a good scrubbing...but if that doesn't work, touchup the paint!
But here is the problem. Most people don't keep their leftover paint or they store it in the garage or storage building. And that is a mistake!
When you paint a room you should always keep the leftover paint stored somewhere in the house. Storing paint in the garage is a mistake because the heat and cold affects the paint and basically renders it worthless!
If the cans are a mess after you have painted, get an empty quart or gallon can from the paint or hardware store and put the leftover paint in it, label the can so you know which room it goes to, then store it in the back of a closet or in a climate controlled room!
When the walls or trim need a little touch up, just shake and stir your paint and you are good to go! Paint will last for YEARS if it is stored properly...and keeping leftover paint can save you a ton of money and time in the future if your walls just need a little touchup!
Here you can see how "chipped" my base trim is in the living room...it's been a few years since I painted the trim.
Always give your trim a good cleaning and then mask off your flooring. Even carpet can be easily masked....just take the tape and push down on the nap of the carpet and "stuff" it under the trim!
Rule of thumb...if it is a hard, unpainted surface like wood or tile, I use the cheaper masking tape. For painted walls or trim, I use the blue painters tape...a little more expensive, but worth it! I always use a good quality brush specifically for the type of paint I am using. As I have mentioned, I always use oil base paint on my trim...so I use a natural bristle brush specifically for oil base paints. And I ALWAYS make sure I clean and store my brushes properly....mineral spirits for oil and soap and water for latex.
Make sure you pull your tape BEFORE the paint dries...once the paint starts to dry on the tape, you risk "peeling" the paint off your painted surface.
As you can see from the first picture, sometimes the trim can get pretty dinged up. If the trim is showing bare wood, I would suggest taking a sponge brush and dabbing the bare spots with a primer (Kilz works great) before painting. Same with the walls...if your kids have taken markers to them or there are bad scuff marks that won't clean off, just touch it up with Kilz before you paint!
For the walls, I use a 4" sponge roller and "spot" roll the walls that need touchup! Easy to clean up and takes no time!
Touching up your walls, trim and doors can instantly freshen up an entire room! And if you are selling your house, it is a MUST!
I'm almost too tired to type...this was a chore but the reward is being able to swipe "master closet" off the dry erase board on the fridge!!!
That and soooo much more storage in my closet.
When both the boys left for college, I basically gutted their rooms. I decorated with all their "stuff" and organized everything they left in their closets, but the entire room was made-over...new paint, flooring, bedding, window dressings! Everything. And I even had a tad bit of space to store some of MY stuff!
And then they moved home. And they brought more stuff!
Anyone who thinks they are going to gain more storage or a hobby or craft room when their kid goes off to college is delusional. Trust me...first, they leave all their "stuff" and second, they WILL come home! And that is fine...the rule: no kids, no spouse, no animals. As long as they follow THE rule, they still have a room!
So my closet has to stay pretty organized because it is storage central. I built a large pantry where I keep all my office/business stuff and our personal "coupon stash." Yes, I am one of those coupon people...but to my credit I only keep what I know my family will use in the near future. The rest is donated to the elementary schools! Last year I donated over $7000 worth of products!
I had a few issues with the closet...first, the flooring. After 13 years, it was pretty nasty. And I pretty much hate carpet! So that had to go. Second, I have 9' ceilings but all the shelving was standard. So I basically had a TON of wasted space and plenty of room to add another self all the way around the closet. I had too much "long" hanging space and not enough "double" hanging space. Honestly, if I would move all my coats to the coat closet, I probably wouldn't need any long hanging space! I seriously do not own a dress any more.
So here is the before and after...and then I will add some "in between" pictures in the tutorial.....
Before....
It wasn't THAT bad...I'm pretty good at cleaning out closets every so often. My GOAL was to only put back about 1/2 of what I took out. But honestly, I clean out my closets and donate about twice a year...so there wasn't that much pack-ratted away! I just needed more shelving and it was due for a good makeover....
After....
So I have new laminate flooring, 25 l.f. of new shelving, paint, more hanging space and new lighting. And a backache, headache and feetache...and I still have a bit of a mess in my office. But in the long run, I think it is ALL worth it!
I have posted a tutorial here... it will fill you in on exactly what I did!
My daughter has been older than me for several years now...hehe! Today she turns 32! Happy Birthday to a very special lady! Love you bunches!
My girls are at opposite ends of my "child spectrum." Sarah is 32 and Katie is 15...the two boys are smack in the middle and 19 months apart. When all is said and done, and Katie turns 18, I will have spent 34 years of my life rearing children. But I can tell you, it doesn't end when they turn 18 or even go off to college. I have a 25 and 23 year old who still require "mothering." Sarah, not so much...but I think girls are different!
Sarah is a wonderful wife and mother...I am very proud of the woman she is today!
For Sarah's birthday, I am "remodeling" my closet. Just kidding...it's not really for her birthday, but I am remodeling my closet. Adding shelving and shoe storage, redesigning the layout, paint, new flooring and light fixture. A MAJOR chore to say the least.
But I have learned one very important thing about myself...I could NEVER be a hoarder...you know, those people you see on that television show that hoard and their houses are jamb packed with "stuff" floor to ceiling.
In order to do my closet, I had to take everything out...and it is all stacked in my office. I have a little path to the bathroom and little path to the living room. Brian asked me what would happen if I had to get to the kitchen in the middle of the night....I told him that I can honestly say I have never had a "middle of the night kitchen emergency." Now the bathroom...that could be an issue.
But after two days of tripping over all the "stuff" that is piled in the office, I know I could never live like that throughout my entire house. It would drive me mad!!!
The floor is down, the new shelving is done and walls are painted.... now I am just waiting for the trim paint to dry. When I get it all put back together I will post pictures and a few tutorials that might help you get organized. This much I know...my need to organize may exhaust me, but if I didn't and I had to live like this all the time....I would never survive!
It is so hard to take a picture of a piece of furniture that was white but is now a PALE mist green...but I tried!
It may not appear in the picture to be a huge difference, but it really is! And it is perfect for a little girl's room! Now if I only had a "little" girl....
What is truly amazing about the color I painted the little chair (Valspar, Mellow Spring) is it matches the color of my 60+ year old Universal Ballerina Mist stoneware to a T!
My paternal grandmother wasn't a "china" kind of lady...so this was really all she had. My mom bought the gravy bowl and plate, the serving platter and the tea pitcher at the estate auction after Grandma passed....while she was carrying it back to her car she dropped the pitcher!! So when mom gave me what she had, the pitcher was beyond repair. So I did what I always do...I Googled the pattern!
Turns out it isn't a real expensive stoneware pattern...but the color and style is really beautiful and very "mid-century" since it was probably made and acquired in the 50s. It is a "mist green" with a platinum band...just awesome. So when I found more pieces out there, I bought another tea pitcher, the milk pitcher, salt and pepper shakers, a serving bowl and the sugar and creamer set.
Being the "family historian" and "archive fanatic" that I am, I carefully wrapped the broken pitcher, put it in a box, and wrote the story of why there was a broken tea pitcher in it and how I acquired a replacement.... with a Sharpie...on the box! Hopefully my family won't think their mom was crazy for keeping a broken tea pitcher in the attic (trust me, they have enough reasons!)
This week while I was sniffing around a new antique shop in town, I found another set of salt and pepper shakers!
Now that I have two sets, I don't mind using one...at least I know I have a replacement if they get broken!
Finally warming up enough to get some painting done...but I thought I would share a little thrift store find that didn't need anything but a good cleaning....
I think I paid $1 for this little lantern at Goodwill. I was initially going to clean it up and paint it black...but I like the "pop" of red so I put a little candle and some sea shells in it, and....that's that. For ONE dollar.
Like I said, I don't have time to "shop" the thrift stores...but I will run in from time to time and see if anything strikes my fancy! You never know!
...another's "trash" may be a perfect little treasure for a spot in your house!
Today I am going to work on the mirror I picked up yesterday and a little child's wicker rocker I picked up at Salvation Army for $5. Hope to get them both painted while it is warm! I will share when they are finished.....
I love it when Brian will "flea shop" with me! Normally he won't go in the thrift stores ...says they smell funny...but he does like the little flea markets and antique stores. He keeps me from buying stuff I really don't need. But occasionally he stops me from buying something I really want AND is priced well.
Several weeks ago we went "flea shopping" at one of my favorite little shops in Rogers. One of the vendors was having a 50% off sale...so the ceramic crock I have been desperately wanting for outdoor planting, which was priced at $125, was only $62.50! No chips, no cracks, no flaws...exactly what I have been looking for!
I REALLY wanted one of these crocks. My mom has had one on her front porch for as long as I can remember. And as I told you, I am constantly on the hunt for perfect, unique planters...and this fit the bill.
But NOOOOOO, Brian talked me out of it...and being the kind and sweet person I am, I obliged. (This is were I will remind you we are not married and I have my own money...we just have one of those respectful relationships...the kind that makes us not do things we want to do when the other poopoos the idea...at least while the other is around!)
Last week when I was picking up my mega Brasilia find in Fayetteville, I found 2 of these crocks in their store...FOR TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH!!! I was rather annoyed that I didn't pick up the less expensive one, IN MINT CONDITION MIND YOU, weeks earlier!
So today, having a few minutes to spare, I went back up to the flea market in Rogers...I was certain the crock would be gone since the vendor was selling out weeks ago...but there it was...waiting on ME! I was sooooo thrilled!
I bought it and promptly called Brian and told him that the bitterness and hostility I was secretly harboring was gone. He is one lucky guy!
I also found this really cool mirror for $15.00...not sure what I am going to do with it...other than paint it! I have this blank wall next to my front door that is crying out for SOMETHING and I am thinking this mirror might be a good "anchor" for some kind of wall decor thingy bopper....who knows. I just liked it's "bones" and I know it will be nifty when I get it painted up!
Previously, I posted pictures of my master bathroom makeover...but it was a looong process to get from here....
to here....
The hardest part was coming up with a design I would love. I seriously struggled for several years on what to do with what I had. I knew I couldn't afford an entire "gut job" but I had to do something. I just did. not. like. my. bathroom.
As I have said before, I believe my house should be my haven...and you should surround yourself with elements you love....but I just didn't know what to do or where to start!
So I did what I often do when I am "stuck" and don't know what to do. I GOOGLE! That's right...I Googled "modern bathrooms," then clicked on images and started saving pictures of bathrooms that struck my fancy...and this is what I came up with! My inspiration rooms....
Two things to note...one, my bathroom is not a big, sprawling space with unlimited potential...second, neither is my wallet.
But these "inspiration" rooms all had elements I really LOVE. And that is the key. Finding inspiration in what others have done...and you immediately "love"...even if you can't duplicate it exactly!
All three inspirations had colors I was really drawn to. The neutral, natural colors. As I said before, I was REALLY lucky to have tile in both the shower and on the floor that I still love (I bought and installed tile I REALLY loved 13 years ago...never regretted it.) That is not always the case, and while it is a tad expensive to change out tile, it is a doable DIY project! (If there is a demand, I will post a tutorial...or there are already great tutorials online)
The cabinets in the first picture were a MUST! But seriously, who can afford custom cabinets. So I created a vanity layout similar to the one in the first inspiration picture using prefabricated cabinets. I sold my other cabinets on Craigslist and that helped offset some of the costs.
Even if you can't afford all new cabinets there is a great tutorial here that gives you step by step instructions on staining your existing cabinets...it's a GREAT fix (and super easy) for any bathroom needing a facelift! And if you don't really like the "java-modern" look there are awesome tutorials online that will tell you how to paint your cabinets! DO WHAT YOU WILL LOVE ON THE BUDGET YOU CAN AFFORD!
Cabinet handles....around $28 each at a local decor shop. I ordered mine from myknob.com for around $7 each! Same quality at a fraction of the cost! This website has knobs, lighting, accessories...a lot of what you need for home decor and DIY projects. Always shop on line when looking for something specific! You would be surprised at what you can find!
The sink and faucet...major score on Overstock.com. You should always check them and Amazon for bathroom fixtures and lighting. Usually you can get what you want for a very reasonable price! And the mirror...Hobby Lobby...seriously!
The granite. Okay...here is my story about my bathroom and kitchen granite. My dear friend Sherry called me on my birthday 2 years ago...she was going to a foreclosure auction at a granite supplier. I had NO intention of buying anything. But before it was over I had bought enough granite for my kitchen and all three bathrooms for around $500. And the place was crawling with granite installers who were begging for business. The cost to cut and install the granite ended up being about 60% of what the labor would have cost me otherwise. AND the guy hauled my slabs of granite for me to his shop...granite is VERY heavy and fragile...not a job for an amateur! I was told my the kitchen granite alone would have wholesaled for around $2500. That is more than I paid for the granite and labor for 3 bathrooms and the kitchen. Major score!!!
As I noted earlier my son-in-law Joel was kind enough to help me with my pendant lights and my can lights. And there is one thing I noticed in ALL the inspiration pictures....lighting is very important!
My whole point...when you KNOW something isn't what you want...change it. And if know something isn't what you want, but you don't know what you want, start Googling and looking at magazines for ideas. Even if you can only change one little element at a time (like removing your nasty shower doors and hanging a pretty curtain!)...YOU CAN DO IT!
It probably took me 2-3 years to come up with a plan and then another few months to get it done.
And here are some hard, fast rules for any design changes...whether it is paint, furniture or knick-knacks!
First, only buy what you LOVE. If you have to "mull it over" or you just aren't SURE, don't buy it! If you don't love it when you first lay eyes on it, you want love it when you take it home.
Start with paint. Just a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference and motivate you! Go to Lowes or your favorite paint store and pick up LOTS of chips of colors you love...then take them home and look at them in your lighting! Picking out paint in a store is a HUGE mistake because it won't look the same with your lighting. So take LOTS of samples. Then, if you still have 2-3 you just aren't sure about, buy the little "sample" containers. They are usually around $3 and it is well worth the money to buy 2-3, paint HUGE splotches on the wall and look at them over a few days. I was down to two paint colors for my fireplace wall in my bedroom...I was certain I liked one better than the other, but I painted 1/2 my wall with one color, and 1/2 with the other. After looking at it for a day I ended up liking my second choice MUCH better.
If you see design elements online or in magazines you love, shop around! Shop online...visit thrift stores and flea markets....take your time. I use to be the worlds worst at wanting it ALL done NOW! But a good design or decor is something that takes time and patience!!! It is a process. Remember, only bring into your home WHAT YOU REALLY LOVE!!!
Shop your house...and your mom's house...and your friend's houses...shop sales and retail outlets!
Take a look at my "Things I Love"...you might be surprised at what you have hidden away that would make wonderful design elements in your own home...decorate with the things you love and the things that make you feel good...you will never regret it!
