Living Room Drapes: DONE (PVC pipe rod!)

OK, I am on a roll-- hubs been helping me get this done for my Pampered Chef party--nothing like a party to motivate to finish those pesky projects! 

Well I have a 113" long window in my living room which is a bear to figure out-- its too big for one blind, and previously (for about 1 year) had horrific vertical blinds (see before pic, below) as the ugly but functional (kept out heat, light, cold) window treatments. Initially, I was going to do the same thing I did with my living room (see post here)...have a lovely bamboo shade them some panels on either side.The blind I bought (the largest they had at 93") was too small, but I was still going to use it, except that I didn't figure what it would look like from the FRONT of the house (like crap). Couldn't do it because its the ONLY window that shows form the front of the house, and it would have looked horrible....

So, plan B went into action. I bought a 3/4" PVC pipe for 1.23. (YES you read it right, A DOLLAR TWENTY THREE!!!) for a 10 foot pole. (Get the thickest walled on you can get-makes it not as bendy)

Hubs invented this genius spray painting set-up (he strung twin through the hole using a pencil on one end and dropping it through ..ain't he something!) and hung it from 2 trees in the backyard.

Then I spray painted it 2 coats of Valspar Metal spray paint in  Brushed Nickel. One coat of clear coat when that's dry. I let it dry overnight, then clear-coated it.

Then I hit a snag: I could not find a bracket I liked, or that would work, for the PCV... I was lazy. I couldn't remember where I saw just the brackets...was it Tuesday Morning? Big Lots? I was running out of time, so I snagged these hooks at Ikea:

Luckily, they were the exact right size for the PVC...

Had these rings I bought a bazillion years ago at Tuesday morning for cheap (2.99 for pack of 7).. I knew I'd use them someday!

My drapery panels were, again my favorite cheap-with-upscale-look at Walmart... on clearance for 9.00 a panel. They look like ivory silk shantung... I love them....and they are lined. I kinda wish they were longer, but with the window seat there, I think it works.

Sooooo, 4.99 each for the pack of 2 hooks

9.00 times 5 for the panels

1.23 (woo hoo) for the "rod"

2.99 times 3 for the rings

soo, like under 60 bucks?

The only thing I wish I'd done was to bring the bracket-thing forward a bit--maybe with a small block of wood? because the curtain on the ring is not sliding freely--not enough space from wall to pole...but that can be fixed later.

Once again, 'cause I can't help myself....

here's the Before:

and the After:

Open (sorry for the horrid quality pic)

closed

Make it a Great Day!

Ann

Dining Room Window Treatments: DONE!

It took ALL DAY, but we are done! They turned out pretty much how I envisioned (see my post about my window treatment inspirations here)  It took forever to get these ideas into action, but I am so glad I did it!

Here's the before:

Here's the AFTER:

Ready for a close up:

My sources for materials were: Ikea, curtain rods, Overstock for the Bali Rattan Blinds, and WalMart for the Better Homes & Gardens drapery panels.
I spent 66.00 (about) each for the rattan blinds (they were sooo large mind you--for a small window much cheaper) and 9.00 per panel (on clearance ) for the panels. I bought 4, so I could lengthen them to 94" (from 84") The curtain rods were 9.99 each (steal! they came with fleur di lis filials, but I left those off)

Inspiration:

from Cote de Texas

Things I learned:

1. Curtain panels typically some in 55" and 84" length--check your packages carefully before you trot out of the store (I thought I had all 84" L panels, but one was 55"L!! Major bummer)

2. Stitch Witchery beats hemming a curtain panel every time...and.....

3. Satin/Taffeta is a major pain in the arse to sew straight, ok?

4. Gets hubs to help you put up the blinds...they are heavy and it'll take the two of you to hold them up while you attach them

5. Ikea has good , cheap curtain rods in lengths up to 134" in width!

6. Yes you CAN make a curtain rod our of PVC pipe, but it will sag if its longer than, like 3-4 ft ...so you will need a center bracket, ok?

Make it a Great Day!
Ann

Mid-century Dresser re-deaux

This baby has been sitting in my garage since November. I finally finished it! The damage on the top necessitated me to paint part of it, and because the wood was so nice (is it mahogany? it is a 1960's dresser made by Drexel) I wanted to keep some wood tones... so I used a black glaze and a stain/sealer combo on the drawers (minwax provincial).

Here it is before:

and after:

 I sprayed the original hardware with Oil Rubbed Bronze..sanded all the surfaces, applied a black glaze to the cabinet and a natural wood stain (miniwax provincial) to the drawers. I don't know what type of wood it is but it is fine grained and very lovely. I also lined the drawers:

Detail:(before staining, after)

I plan to hang my black mirror (another recent makeover) over it, and use it as a buffet/storage console in the big huge blank space in between my dining room and living room.

This was my inspiration, from CB2:

Cheers!

Make it a great Day!

Ann

Works in Progress

Right now I am working on 2 projects...first off I did complete this mirror, which will go over my buffet hutch (more on that piece later)

Before:

After:

This is the detail...

It was easy... I primed (zinsser), painted (Benjamin Moore Black Suede) , first taping and spraying the inset with silver spray paint. Then I sanded and distressed the corners, and coated it all with a satin wipe-on poly.


The "buffet", a mid-century dresser, really, that's been in our household for years now, 3 homes, bedrooms, now started like this:

I would like it to look like this: (black top to tie in the black mirror and other black elements in the room)
(image from Crate&Barrel)

The other is the cane chairs. Hubs is away, and now's the perfect time to put my plan into action... I want to GLUE patches of the new cane onto the tears... I KNOW it sounds nuts, but I will be painting and distressing them anyway. BTW..hubs was appalled the condition these babies were in-- I want to at least get to the primer stage so when he come back he will see they CAN and WILL be saved!

THESE are my inspiration, wish me luck!

Posting to SNS...at Funky Junk

Too Good to Leave Behind

OK, you ever go thriftin' and see something fabulous that you definitely DO NOT NEED... but the price is right, and you WISH you needed it, and well you just can't pass it up?

I did that the other day. I really think I may have a problem...well, admitting you have a problem is the first step to being reformed, yes?

I HAD to pick up these 2 denim lampshades, you see, even though I only have ONE lamp they fit, and it already HAS a lampshade on it! I DID NOT NEED THESE!! BUT, they were not just any lampshades, no..no, they were Pottery Barn Kids lampshades, and brand-spankin' new. And perfect. And they were marked $2.99 each with 50% off. And new. How could I not?

(That's the cute red one I already have...was I being greedy?Probably...)

I guess I can change my son's current RED shade with the adorable blue denim whipstitched one... and BUY a lamp to fit the other... what do you think?(maybe I do this kinda stuff just to fill the time...as if I don't have a million other things to finish...)

The other thing was, I actually found some matching chairs on Craigslist. I was complaining about CL a couple of posts ago, here. Craigslisted at $20.00 each, not bad, the photo online looked great... but when I got there (I drove 20 minutes!! ), one had major damage on the cane part. I was bummed, but they had to sell, they were the last things left in the home they were moving from. So, I ended up paying $20.00 for both...I still don't know if they qualify as a "score" or random act of kindness on my part.

(If anyone knows how to repair caning, please drop me a line... I ordered a piece of cane and was thinking of gluing a patch over the existing, paint them distressed white, and calling it a day.)

Linkin up to

Twice-Owned Tuesday

and

Ann


Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville

Can it be The Search is Over?

UPDATE: This is my very first post! I will link it up to Our Suburban Cottages' "How I Met My House Party" April 22 2010!

Yes, we have been looking for a home to buy for over 4 years now. Yep, you heard right, over 4 years. Why you ask, so long? Well, we had a blip back in 05 when we decided to sell and leave California for Arizona. Both Hubs and I thought we'd find our place there: larger digs, pool, nice and clean, etc. We weren't figuring for the 1000 degree summer temps well into October (ok I am exaggerating) or us and the kids desperately missing L.A. What can I say? Nothing against AZ... it had great things about it, but it just never felt like home for us. Oh, that and the fact Hubs business was here in L.A. and shortly after we moved he landed a huge account. So after 5 1/2 months, we moved back. Into the house we sold. Yes, you heard me right... for the 5 1/2 months we were gone, our home sat with a "for rent" sign on it, unrented and unloved. So during the years we've been back, we waited and watched as home prices went up-up-up, then down down down... we must have toured over 100 houses... I am not kidding.... went through countless Internet searches, several real estate agents (sorry, guys), and watched while houses we liked were either just out of reach financially, or sold after we finally decided (too late) to make that offer. Plus they just never felt right..... we looked in other neighborhoods and school districts, but kept coming back. After our son joined our local tag football this fall, we said: this is it. This is our community, the kids love it here, our friends are here... we're staying. But it seemed there was NO house for us to buy. Too small, too big, too expensive, just not right. Until Saturday. We're driving along and see the ubiquitous Open House sign. So discouraged (we had resolved for the millionth time to "just wait a few more months") we almost didn't go. We were on our way to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". But we did stop. Inside, an empty home, spotless. Not gross... hmmm... needs updates but I could live with this... nice layout, roomy but not cavernous.... nice 3 car garage, nice street....our neighborhood, same schools for the kids...hmmm... price: OMG we can actually afford it! What? It can't be. Agent tells us its not listed yet, had been EMPTY for 3 years after the ONE ORIGINAL OWNER decided to rent it out... after spouse passed away just wanted a nice family to move in...need to sell (enter: US! yes, we are nice! Maybe more Simpsons than Flanders but we're nice, really!!)



Anyway, we are waiting now for the bank (yes we were preapproved so it should go OK) and we'll walk y'all through the process. When it closes (please please let it be smooth!) I will post all the before pics. I am already thinking about the unfortunate lump of drywall between stones on the fireplace and how can I re-do it? You guys can help me choose decorating themes! I would describe myself as simply country with a touch of midcentury... does that even exist??



Check back and join me on the journey.



Oh and for you househunters I recommend doing homework--on redfin.com, zillow.com and sign up with Zip Realty to get auto emailed listings. Even though our house (please let it be our house!) was never listed, those sites are great... for comparison (comps) ideas, and whats really going on in your neck of the woods regarding real estate. I feel confident out accepted offer was fair, not a low-ball, not a rip-off to us... just fair. That's what we prayed for.....



Oh and blogs I love: Cote de Texas, The Lettered Cottage, an OC Cottage, Velvet & Linen, Heather Bullard, Our Suburban Cottage: I will post your links as soon as I figure out how to do it!!!!!

UPDATE: This is my very first post! I will link it up to Our Suburban Cottages' "How I Met My House Party" April 22 2010!

 View from our house...our block.