Chair

Lilac Solar Flair Armless Slipper Chair (see more colored chairs)

My plan for You, side table....

I saw these are immediately and shamelessly fell in love...




via TheodoreAlexander

 

I am a HUGE fan of stripes...for everything...clothing, rugs, fabric, and now, furniture.

I already have taupe-y toned striped curtains in my DR, so I am hoping this won't be too nuts...

I am seriously thinking re-doing my black mirror and a side table in the stripes, as above.

My intended victims:

What do y'all think?

Make it a Great Day
Ann

Den Transformation

It started like this when we first moved in

 

I mean, can it be any more boring? Good points: its a big, neutral space, and the kitchen is adjacent as one great open space.

We needed a sofa desperately, and found this one.

In choosing this sectional, I thought I was solving two major problems: need for seating, and filling up the space. I realized after it was there a few months that I should have ordered the reverse...so that the chaise was on the other side to bridge between the kitchen space and the den.... Oh well, I was going to HAVE to make it work!

This is the other side of the room...so heavy with furniture while the other side is so empty

I posted about my color dilemma--those white walls were just too boring!

 So a few months, painting and furniture rearranging later...

ta da!

BREAKING UP THOSE 2 HUGE BOOKCASES MADE THE ROOM MORE BALANCED

Getting the furniture away from the walls also made the room feel less long and narrow.

A reading nook emerged

Plenty of room to stretch out. And cozier to boot. Now everyone can see the TV.

The color is Ben Moore Pale Smoke, cut by half with white

I think we're on to something here. I still have to put  up the curtains...they are so pretty I can't wait.  The kitchen was painted the same color. I love it with my espresso cabinets. ( I will post on that another day--today my kitchen is sorta messy!)

Again, Before:

AFTER:

The best part? It cost me just the gallon of paint. Yes, it's a large space but more than half of it is windows, so a gallon did it all. Accessories were stolen from other rooms.

Let me know what you think!

Thank you Chic on a Shoestring for featuring me!

Make it a Great Day!

Ann

Little Side Table Makeovers

Seems like lately when I go thrifting, these little side tables are a dime a dozen. Well, I finally got around to at least starting to make these guys over. I orginally posted about them here...way back last April !! They've been sitting in my garage since then. I'm so glad I finally did these--it feels good to stop procrastinating and just do something!

Here's the first one, a little forlorn here. I think it cost 4 bucks at the SA 50% off Wednesday.

I also had to fix a wobbly leg (which I did not notice when I first picked it up) It actually had a crack down the side on one leg! I thought she might be a goner, but a little Gorilla Glue, and some painters tape to hold it together while it dried, and now its strong and secure.

Here it is, After:

A little gray "oops" paint, some dstressed edges and she's good! I still want to put a wipe-on poly just for extra protection. Maybe some more distressing, and a glaze, it looks a little boring in that photo, I'll admit.

Here's victim #2. One of my homie bloggers had the exact same thrift find! Its a cute little office table, with still-working great wheels and two fold-down sides. So useful. Maybe a sewing table, is what I thought...





Now, it looks a whole lot better. All I did was sand the bejeezus out of the top and wipe on poly it 3 times. Can you believe how beautiful that wood came to life? I am waiting to get some apple-green spray paint and spray the legs. What do you think?

Well, thats all for now. Let me see what else I have lying around my garage that I can improve...............

Make it a Great Day!

Ann

Orphan Furniture.....

Ever get an itch to buy something-- this happens to me mostly whilst browsing Overstock for something "practical"-- and then you buy it (damn you, Bill Me Later) and realize when it arrives you have absolutely no place, or use for it?

Case in point: The Ottomans.

I fell in LOVE with these, hard............(mine happen to be apple green-but they are the same)

But what I really needed was this guy (to the left here) So what did I do? I bought BOTH of them. So now I have FOUR ottomans. I justified it by telling myself all the things you tell yourself: It will be extra seating for guests! It adds a pop of color! They are so versatile! and my favorite: they all stack inside each other, so they won't take up that much room! 

Well, these babies showed up and the big one is HUGE! Three people can sit on it! Although I LIKE it, I really have no place for them.

I have moved them half a dozen times, and they have been in the den, the living room, and now the three of em are stacked inside each other in a corner of my living room.... where they will soon be leaving.....

So, my friends, what should I do? Craigslist? Maybe the kids rooms? Hmmm...they might like them.... oh no, NOT the garage, its already full of these orphans:

couch in there...

keeping this guy company...

and this guy too...

 Make it a Great Day!!

Ann

Makeovers! Befores and Afters Madness!

 LOve painting things BLACK.

Here a a few new BLACK makeovers I did. You KNOW I LOVE painting furniture BLACK (see here and here) Its a quick and easy update and goes with almost ANY decor. Plus it moderns up even the most homely piece. Grandma-ish instantly becomes tres chic! 

I always use Rustoleum Satin Black spray paint...if I can find it the 2x cover. Otherwise, the normal is fine. It totally beats any other brand, IMHO. (Thats, In My Honest Opinion...y'know how long I went not knowing what the hark that meant? You're welcome... ;) )


These guys were for a friend... ugly outdated orange oak before:

and ta-daaaa!

I even modge-podged printed-out antique maps in the inner cubby(which was really sticky and gross before...quick fix!)

Next up, I found this poor thing at S.A. (That's Salvation Army...don't you love knowledge?) It was 50% off and marked $14.00, somehow I got caught it the Sale frenzy and thought $7.00 was a good price. I later found I probably wouldn't have paid over a dollar or 2 for it at a garage sale...Only after I got it home I realized it was missing a part! One of the front decorative do-dads that hold in the magazines was missing. Great. But crafty-me just cut a dowel to size and Liquid-Nailed it up...

(sorry I can't find my "before" photo...does anyone have tips on haw to organize photos? Man, I'm always losing them!)

I used my trusty Rustoleum Satin Black, added some strategically placed distressing, and finished with a light coat of Wipe-On Poly.  Here she is, ready for her close-up!

 

Now, for the Grandma table. No, really, Great Grandma gave it to us. I asked if it was OK to paint it, and until now, was not sure what color. Of course, it HAD to be black... I LOVE it now-- its sooo Ballards, don't you think? Gawd, its soo much better! (Sorry Grandma)

Before:

After:

OK, now one last one... a very GREEN mirror:

Becomes sooooo Paris-cafe when dressed in black, no?

Make it a Great Day!

Ann
Linking to: Its So Very Cheri  and Paint Party at Primitive&Proper! c u there!

Two Afters and a Before....

Remember THESE Chairs?

Here is the Before:

Here is the 1st After:

Nice? Yeah, except I just wasn't feelin' it....

 I have this problem: I keep trying to get Blue in my life (it IS my fave color) but somehow it never works out for me! I fall in love with a black and white fabric, for example, these:  

 and then a green, This:

and then wam-o blue is out of the picture.

Now here is the 2nd After:

Here's a DURING in case your interested. Just for the record: I am buying my chairs BRAND NEW from now on. Whew what a process...

Here they are, side by side, premakeover and post:

another view---they are sooo pretty:

Much better in my black, white and green-accented living room. Until I change my mind again, which I just might. I figure if I keep the large furnishings and walls neutral, then I can add any accent color and fabrics I want later to change it up.

Here's to remind me, my inspiration room, which mixes it all up fabulously...black, white, brown, etc. I love it so much.

I like this one, too...with a much lighter palette and white walls...closer to my exisiting room layout too...not crazy 'bout the rug--I'd do an updated persian in warm muted tones...

Make it a Great Day!

Ann
Hooking  up to: Metamorphasis Monday...DIY Showoff c u there!