Design Dilemma-Huntington, WV

My husbands good friend from growing up, Jim, emailed me with a design dilemma.  They HATE their kitchen as it is today and want to make a change.

  Here's a picture of the current condition...

View from the kitchen into the eating area

He mentioned white cabinets with navy walls so here is some inspiration for him.  I think this color combo is so fantastic!  Love the pop of color against the white cabinets.  My friend Kristen recently redid her kitchen in a VERY similar color and she thinks it was called Cayman Bay by Behr.

And I love the idea of a gallery wall on the eat-in panelled wall.

I sent him this tutorial from Not Just a Housewife I recently found on a link party.  I've never painted kitchen cabinets (although I'm DYING to paint my own!) so I can't vouch for how this method works.  It does seem on the simpler side when comparing it to other kitchen cabinet tutorials.  I told him I would add the step of using a water based poly to protect all his hard work!

I might also recommend buying of of these bad boys.  My mom and sister swear by it and I think it would be more cost effective than buying a bunch of cans of spray paint.

Home Depot $68

Wagner Control Spray Double Duty

So I will leave you with one question.  What color do you think they should paint the fully panelled wall?  I thought white so that everything with the panelled look (including the cabinets) would be white and all other wall space would be the blue color.  But what you do you guys think?

Election 2011?

You'd think there was an election going all with all the Campaigning going on around here!!!  My sisters campaign dresser redo really got my butt in gear with my campaign pieces. 

Here's a quick before and after to show you!  I found this campaign nightstand after a thrifty reader alerted me of its location at one of my fav's Diversity Thrift!  It was in pretty bad shape with a nasty water mark on the bottom (I'm really hoping that's what it was!) but I knew that could be easily fixed with a coat of primer (Zinsser Oil Based) and 2 coats of paint (Behr Ultra Pure White in Eggshell with Minwax water based poly applied after paint dried).  I also refreshed the hardware by applying some Brasso polish. 

Here it is in its former glory!

And here it is today!

As much as I love it and REALLY wanted to keep it, it's now living in my little space at Through the Garden Gate.  I'm trying to start off with a bang (read: make my first months rent!) so I'm hoping this little guy with sell!  Also hoping I find another one to keep for myself ;)

Linking up to these lovely ladies!
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/

OLD English = My NEW best friend!

First of all, thank you SO MUCH for all your encouraging words about my new adventure!  It's a scary thing but it's good to know I have people who believe it's a good idea, because sometimes I'm not so sure myself...so THANK YOU!

Now, on to your regularly scheduled post:

If you have wood furniture that has some wear and tear, meet your new best friend!  I found out about this lovely from my blog friend Evie over at Post College Working Girl.  She is hysterical, chic, and oh so thrifty!  She wrote a post about this stuff a while back and I kept meaning to pick it up, and hadn't until today. 

Old English Scratch Cover (Home Depot around $6)

My husbands parents gave us a gorgeous dark wood secretary (nice, right!?)  It had a few deep scratches that I wanted to try to "erase"

Here are the scratches BEFORE:

And here it is AFTER!

I really couldn't believe it!!!  Now, the scratches are still there but they are almost invisible and no one would know unless they were looking.  Fun right!!

 A mini-facelift for the old girl!  Don't you wish it were that easy for us human folk!  Just rub a little Old English around the crows feet and they disappear.

So that's the tip of the day!

Anyone else every used this stuff? 

The shop is open...

 

Actually the little square of space is open! 

I took the plunge and rented a space at a local Antique Mall.  It's more of a shabby chic refinished furniture place which works better for what I like to do.  My space is looking very bare but it's a work in progress!  I took some pics for you guys and hope to take more as I fill it up with fun furniture and decor finds that I've revamped a bit.  Thanks for all the support you gave me!  It really helped me make the decision to go for it! 

For any local readers, I'm at Through the Garden Gate Antiques on rt 301 in Hanover.  I'm on the second floor!  Come and see my space if you can!  I would love to hear what you think!

Here are the pics.  I have a few more things I finished up and have to cart over tomorrow that will hopefully make it look a little less pitiful!



Yesterdays mirror redo found a home here and my little elephant friend!

Remember that yellow mirror that was meant to be...well, I think it was meant to be black!

Remember this guy?

So there is A LOT of work to be done but it's definitely a start. 

Quick Faux Bamboo Redo

I hope you all had a great weekend! 

Wanted to show you a quick redo I recently tackled. 

Here is the before (minus the mirror I already removed to prep for painting):

I found this at Salvation Army for $7.00. 

After!

Yes, I know, I use this fabric WAY too much but I still had some on hand and since it was free and I have a slight obsession with it, I used it again!!!  It just makes me smile!

I will be back tomorrow to give a tutorial and show you where it will be living!

Linking up here!

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/

http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/

Thrifty Threads or Fashion Faux-pas?

Ummmm, this is completely unrelated to thrifty home decor but I thought I had to share it.  I am completely obsessed with one shoulder clothing as of a few hours ago.  My husband has his 10 year reunion this weekend and I'm pretty sure I'm wearing one shouldered tops both nights.  I think that might be a major fashion faux-pas but I don't care!!!  And how embarrassing is this.  I bought them from the juniors (eeek!) department at Dillards.  I realize I'm 30 and have two children but the plethora of one shouldered shirts pulled me into the teeny bopper department and I couldn't help myself! 

The sales associate asked me if I needed any help, AKA you are WAY to old to be shopping in this department, save yourself the embarrassment lady and leave before you make a mistake!

I wanted to make sure I couldn't find anything in the "adult" section so I took my tween tops and mosied (sp?) over there.  Didn't find anything, I guess adults don't go for one shouldered clothing, but I paid for my stuff at that register.  The woman kept mentioning how "oh this is cute, AHHHH, its from Juniors!"  She said Juniors about 7 times! 

Well I thought I would share what I got because shopping juniors IS pretty thrifty!  Granted the clothes will probably turn to shreds in the wash.

Dillards $29.00

 SO be honest, do you shop in the juniors department?  Ever feel like you're getting the evil eye from the teeny boppers shopping for their taffeta prom dresses?

My sister's campaign dresser makeover!

I really wish the title of this was MY campaign dresser makeover...but alas mine still sits unfinished in the garage babysitting the spot where my car should be parked!  This heat is a serious motivator to get my crap projects finished and out of the garage!

So here is her before.  Remember she found a Goodwill Campaign dresser the same day I found one at my goodwill.  Here's the story for the new readers! 

Before:

And here is her AFTER!!!

Didn't she do SUCH a fabulous job!!  I am so in love with it!  The color is perfect!  Not too bold but definitely not your standard white or black.  I'm so proud!  Can't wait to see what she does with her card catalog.

My mom helped her with the painting and bought a new toy to help them get it done quickly. 

This is what she used.  Can you believe how affordable it is. 

Home Depot $68

Wagner Control Spray Double Duty

They raved about it!!! My sister is coming to visit in a couple days and bringing it with her!!! Happy day to me!! Can't wait to try it out.  Maybe she will paint my dresser for me  show me how to use it ;)


Linking up my sisters gorg dresser to these wonderful blogs (is that even allowed I don't know, but I want to show it off!!!)
http://www.primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/