(the dark spots on the wall are "touch ups" in the wrong color...oops!)
I'm joining Miss Mustard Seed for furniture feature friday
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Itty Bitty Furniture Find
I found this itsy bitsy table that doesn't need any painting or distressing, because it's already been painted and distressed...
of course it's green and I like the folk art painting (a little of this goes a long way). I'm trying this out in my bedroom entry for now, not sure where it may finally land.
New Logo
I am so excited to show my new logo! I have been working with Jen from Bowerbird Creative.
What a fun experience! I knew I wanted a rooster because that to me represents a farmhouse, but sooo many businesses use a rooster as their logo. I needed to have something really different and that's where Jen came in. She knew immediately what I was describing and soon had half a dozen sketches for me and I love how she incorporated my favorite colors. I am so pleased with the results. Now I feel like my business is official.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Quirky
The best word to describe these rooms is quirky... and I love them. More and more I find myself drawn to the off-beat and unexpected, maybe it's all the time I spend reading design magazines, blogs and books.
I'm now slowly adding this quirkiness to my own home...
Huge floor lamp
Miss-matched sinks
I'm now slowly adding this quirkiness to my own home...
Huge Mirror
Huge floor lamp
Miss-matched sinks
No matching cabinets
Random seating area
Patched wallpaper
Monday, June 27, 2011
Outside Again
After nearly a week of rain, the sun has come back out...and my flowers a doing marvellous.
The hydrangeas are almost ready to bloom
The little furry ones are also enjoying the sun...
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Book Sale
Today was the last day of our annual library book sale. On the last day, whatever you can fit into a brown grocery bag is $3.00. I had no problem filling a bag or two...
This is just a few I purchased. I collect vintage design books, furniture books, and of course favorite authors (Alexandra Stoddard).
This draperies & upholstery book has #64 of these great images. They measure 8" x 11" and will look wonderful framed. These book sales are an excellent place to find images to frame and decoupage.
Friday, June 24, 2011
New Finds
I found some great pieces at the thrift store last weekend...
Agate coffee pot that looks great in my garden with a plant (can't remember what the plant is called?)
Vintage carafe with a silver plated top and a cylinder for ice
Cute little pitcher with aqua flowers
and a new project, it's called a princess dresser and it needs work. The veneer on the side has some missing spots and the top is water damaged but I love the curve in the front and the small size.
I actually have a basement full of projects and hopefully I'll have some time this week to get some completed. I'll Be back soon to show some new things,
Gayle
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Todd Richesin
Todd's philosophy of design is that you start with what you love and build from there. He is an advocate of the collection. A client's collection gives great insight into what they truly love, and it is always fun to work a collection into a design. Inspiration can begin with a client's favorite color, or a painting, a fabric, or a rug, but it is always initiated by something the client likes."
I love, love, love this home. The colors, collections, furniture, rugs...perfect!
If you like Todd's work then check out Todd Richesin Interiors where you can find more inspirational photos.
I love, love, love this home. The colors, collections, furniture, rugs...perfect!
If you like Todd's work then check out Todd Richesin Interiors where you can find more inspirational photos.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Plates on the Wall
I love to collect pretty dishes and a great way to display them is to hang them on the wall...
on a rack...
mixed with art and mirrors...
but now I am seeing a much more creative way to hang plates on the wall...
(Images: House Beautiful & Pinterest )
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Looks I'm Liking
I find I go through "design" phases, certain looks I can't seem to get enough of...
currently I am really into miss-matched sofas
This was a big faux pas when I was working in a large furniture chain store in LV, NV. It was a given the sofa matched the love seat and two sofas would be identical (boring!!)
currently I am really into miss-matched sofas
(Images: House Beautiful and Better Homes & Gardens)
This was a big faux pas when I was working in a large furniture chain store in LV, NV. It was a given the sofa matched the love seat and two sofas would be identical (boring!!)
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
In the Newspaper
This Sunday I found an article on furniture makeovers. I don't usually like to be so "wordy" on my blog, but I related so much to the article and I know a lot of you will too.
Newbies can do furniture makeovers
By SARAH WOLFE The Associated Press
For many homeowners, spring has brought the itch for change but not the money to do much about it.
But that doesn't mean you're stuck with Aunt Edna's floral couch another year.
More and more homeowners are rolling up their sleeves and refurbishing tables, chairs and couches themselves, designers say.
"Frugality and practicality are still at the forefront of people's minds right now, so updating and making the best of what you already have is a surefire way to save money and recycle," said Rachael Liska, senior editor at Fresh Home magazine.
It may seem daunting, especially if you're a do-it-yourself newbie, but starting small and taking your time can ease stress or anxiety.
"The way we sort of think of it here is you're dressing your furniture on a level that everyone really is comfortable with," said Danielle Claro, home editor at Real Simple magazine. "Think about getting a haircut, jewelry or clothes for yourself. You don't have to completely remake a piece. You get can a lot of bang for your buck, even if you're not super handy."
Have a clear idea of what you want to do before you dive in, Liska said.
"Look to magazines, bloggers and designers, or even artwork for inspiration," she said. "And be sure to have everything you need -- all your supplies -- on hand."
PAINTING
Painting is by far the easiest way to spruce up an old piece of furniture.
A dull pine table can become a sleek modern piece with a coat or two of glossy black paint. Enamel paint is cheap, and spray paints now come in almost any color you can imagine, and adhere to just about any surface, said Cindy Thomas, editor and owner of Frugalsimplicity.com.
Claro suggested painting a mirror's frame with a glossy color, or taking an old wooden Windsor chair and sanding it, priming it and coating it with a fresh spring color like orange or turquoise.
"That's the kind of thing where if you have a white kitchen and you throw an orange chair in there it can revive the whole room," she said.
But, Claro stressed, don't paint a piece you love, and certainly not an antique.
Emily Henderson, host of HGTV's "Secrets From A Stylist," agreed, and offered a strict rule for painting furniture: "If the pieces are over 50 years old, don't do it," she said. "You'll lose the charm and age that makes the piece beautiful."
STAINING/WAXING
Instead of painting, Henderson suggests stripping and waxing old furniture to bring out the wood's beauty and color.
Stripping and staining is a bit more work, but is still a relatively inexpensive way to change things up while keeping the furniture's original look.
Don't choose a stain that's much darker than the natural wood, Henderson said, but "stick in the same tone of wood."
You'll likely need to remove the original finish with a paint and varnish remover first and sand out any imperfections. Then add the stain based on the package directions, and apply a coat of varnish to protect the surface, Thomas said.
"Reupholstering can be an expensive mistake, but when it comes to refinishing, in general it can always be stripped back," Henderson said. "I've totally done that. I had one chair where we tried it three different times before we got something we liked."
EMBELLISHING/ACCESSORIZING
Painting and staining are tried-and-true techniques for updating furniture, but Liska says a fresher take is to try gilding, decoupaging, decal-ing, or embellishing old pieces with materials such as decorative nail heads, leather trim, cording and tassels.
Try trimming a tired sofa chair with some gilded cord to change its personality and give it a more "boudoir, European" look, Henderson suggested.
"All it takes is $10 and a glue gun, and it's removable," she said.
At DIY Network, designers added a mod touch to an old brown dresser by decoupaging the drawers and sides with plaid wallpaper. Using pre-pasted wallpaper, they said, dip it in water, smooth it onto the drawers with a sponge and allow it to dry about four hours. Then apply a decoupage medium with a sponge brush to the drawer fronts, allow that to dry, and finish the project with a set of more refined pull knobs to give the piece a more elegant feel.
Changing out the hardware on a dresser or side table is one of the easiest ways to make it over.
Brass insects and other animal-shaped knobs are hot right now, as are clear and colored glass for a more vintage feel, Claro said.
"One thing with knobs: Buy several and try them all," she said. "Look at them in the context of the room before you make an investment and put time in. It makes a big difference."
REUPHOLSTERING
By comparison, reupholstering is a lot of work and takes practice. But it can be one of the most professional-looking ways to update an old chair or couch.
Slip covers are a cheaper, easier alternative. But Henderson swears by reupholstering, and says it's not that hard if you stick to the right fabrics.
"I buy pieces for $100 and reupholster them for $200 or $300," she said. "It's a one-of-a-kind piece and it's customized for you."
Henderson loves washed linens, though they're not terribly durable, so try them on side chairs first if you have kids.
Cotton velvet is another favorite that's cozy and more durable. It usually starts at just $10 a yard, Henderson said.
Hot patterns this spring are Ikat, any ethnic print and matte-printed cottons over something shiny, Claro said.
Newbies can do furniture makeovers
By SARAH WOLFE The Associated Press
For many homeowners, spring has brought the itch for change but not the money to do much about it.
More and more homeowners are rolling up their sleeves and refurbishing tables, chairs and couches themselves, designers say.
"Frugality and practicality are still at the forefront of people's minds right now, so updating and making the best of what you already have is a surefire way to save money and recycle," said Rachael Liska, senior editor at Fresh Home magazine.
It may seem daunting, especially if you're a do-it-yourself newbie, but starting small and taking your time can ease stress or anxiety.
"The way we sort of think of it here is you're dressing your furniture on a level that everyone really is comfortable with," said Danielle Claro, home editor at Real Simple magazine. "Think about getting a haircut, jewelry or clothes for yourself. You don't have to completely remake a piece. You get can a lot of bang for your buck, even if you're not super handy."
Have a clear idea of what you want to do before you dive in, Liska said.
"Look to magazines, bloggers and designers, or even artwork for inspiration," she said. "And be sure to have everything you need -- all your supplies -- on hand."
PAINTING
Painting is by far the easiest way to spruce up an old piece of furniture.
A dull pine table can become a sleek modern piece with a coat or two of glossy black paint. Enamel paint is cheap, and spray paints now come in almost any color you can imagine, and adhere to just about any surface, said Cindy Thomas, editor and owner of Frugalsimplicity.com.
Claro suggested painting a mirror's frame with a glossy color, or taking an old wooden Windsor chair and sanding it, priming it and coating it with a fresh spring color like orange or turquoise.
"That's the kind of thing where if you have a white kitchen and you throw an orange chair in there it can revive the whole room," she said.
But, Claro stressed, don't paint a piece you love, and certainly not an antique.
Emily Henderson, host of HGTV's "Secrets From A Stylist," agreed, and offered a strict rule for painting furniture: "If the pieces are over 50 years old, don't do it," she said. "You'll lose the charm and age that makes the piece beautiful."
STAINING/WAXING
Instead of painting, Henderson suggests stripping and waxing old furniture to bring out the wood's beauty and color.
Stripping and staining is a bit more work, but is still a relatively inexpensive way to change things up while keeping the furniture's original look.
Don't choose a stain that's much darker than the natural wood, Henderson said, but "stick in the same tone of wood."
You'll likely need to remove the original finish with a paint and varnish remover first and sand out any imperfections. Then add the stain based on the package directions, and apply a coat of varnish to protect the surface, Thomas said.
"Reupholstering can be an expensive mistake, but when it comes to refinishing, in general it can always be stripped back," Henderson said. "I've totally done that. I had one chair where we tried it three different times before we got something we liked."
EMBELLISHING/ACCESSORIZING
Painting and staining are tried-and-true techniques for updating furniture, but Liska says a fresher take is to try gilding, decoupaging, decal-ing, or embellishing old pieces with materials such as decorative nail heads, leather trim, cording and tassels.
Try trimming a tired sofa chair with some gilded cord to change its personality and give it a more "boudoir, European" look, Henderson suggested.
"All it takes is $10 and a glue gun, and it's removable," she said.
At DIY Network, designers added a mod touch to an old brown dresser by decoupaging the drawers and sides with plaid wallpaper. Using pre-pasted wallpaper, they said, dip it in water, smooth it onto the drawers with a sponge and allow it to dry about four hours. Then apply a decoupage medium with a sponge brush to the drawer fronts, allow that to dry, and finish the project with a set of more refined pull knobs to give the piece a more elegant feel.
Changing out the hardware on a dresser or side table is one of the easiest ways to make it over.
Brass insects and other animal-shaped knobs are hot right now, as are clear and colored glass for a more vintage feel, Claro said.
"One thing with knobs: Buy several and try them all," she said. "Look at them in the context of the room before you make an investment and put time in. It makes a big difference."
REUPHOLSTERING
By comparison, reupholstering is a lot of work and takes practice. But it can be one of the most professional-looking ways to update an old chair or couch.
Slip covers are a cheaper, easier alternative. But Henderson swears by reupholstering, and says it's not that hard if you stick to the right fabrics.
"I buy pieces for $100 and reupholster them for $200 or $300," she said. "It's a one-of-a-kind piece and it's customized for you."
Henderson loves washed linens, though they're not terribly durable, so try them on side chairs first if you have kids.
Cotton velvet is another favorite that's cozy and more durable. It usually starts at just $10 a yard, Henderson said.
Hot patterns this spring are Ikat, any ethnic print and matte-printed cottons over something shiny, Claro said.