Painting Pine

I thought I needed to update my living room tables. They are pine and I've had them for quite a while.

My inspiration came from a friend who happened to have the very same tables. She casually mentioned she had painted her and I asked her to email me a couple of pictures since she's moved away.

I bugged her repeatedly ask her several times questions about how she did it. I went to Lowe's and Home Depot several times--buying and returning. Last week I began.
First I cleaned, sanded, and painted two coats of paint. (Coffee Bean mixed at Lowe's).

Next step was to add black to glaze and highlight --this is where I steered away and ended up going over the entire piece. I regret that decision!

It was looking alright until I added the satin poly top coat. Then...doom! It just doesn't look right. I've tried sanding it to get some of the high gloss. 

Check out some other paint projects on Beneath My Heart's Linky party. 

I may just have to start all over again...someday...

Time for Porch Living!

Oh, Spring is beginning this week! Can't wait for my favorite time of the year. I began updating my screened in porch. This is the before:

I've had that rug for years and years! I am tired. tired. of the Christmas green.

So I went shopping and picked up new cushions and a new rug.

I guess I am in an aqua faze! The cushions have the light turquoise and light brown accents. I lucked upon the cushions at Big Lots--total was around $75. Not bad! They are reversible.

The new rug brings in all the shades. And to me the lighter rug is calming.

The rug came from Lowe's. Since the weather doesn't get into the porch it should be fine. The other one was for years, and years, and years.

Now I'm anticipating the ferns that will be out soon! Until then I laid a silk one on the table--just to give me a spring in my step.

It will go from this:

To this:

I've tried to keep my geraniums over by storing them in the garage. Does anyone know exactly how to bring them out--do I begin to water them more and just set them outside???? They look alive but barely. They were gorgeous last year!

Happy Spring!

White to Bright

I am stressing during the dark days of winter. Especially the north facing kitchen and dining room areas of the house. I just cannot get enough sun to chase away the winter blues.

I am adding more "white" to the kitchen. I lucked out at TJMaxx the other day. These little canisters were a steal! And since one is labeled tea and the other coffee it will work out perfectly since we drink decaf coffee at night. (Need I say that we are addicted to coffee--and lots of it!) I put the decaf in the tea and explained it in detail to Mr. Spouse. The coffee is in the coffee container. And coffee is in the tea container. But the decaf coffee is in TEA. And he gets it. 

I really like the detail in them. It pops out!

Every time I go in TJMaxx I am on the lookout for more "parts" of this white ware. But nothing yet. But then, the looking is exciting too!

What do you do to chase away the winter blues?

A good cup of coffee is comforting. Now I just need to get rid of the cord hanging down. But I'll worry about that another day!

Adding a Little Pattern

With all the dreariness of winter and inside hours, I just needed a little "bling" in my dining and living rooms. Since they are open to each other, I noticed that there was just no pattern. Everything was solid. Couch. Loveseat. Drapes. Well, you get the picture:

I tried putting accessories but it still just seemed oh-hum. By looking at all the fabulous homes on blogs and getting inspirations that makes me a little more unsatisfied with what I have I went looking for something fairly inexpensive but something to add a little drama. Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality has the most fabulous pattern in her drapes and brought in lots of aqua/blue touches.

I'm a long way off from this beauty. I did find some pattern in these curtains from Target. 

It's a beginning. I am searching for other touches that will liven up the rooms. I searched and searched today for fabric/and or table runners to use in the dining room but didn't find anything that touched my heart. I am adding a touch of life with plants.

My current table runners are actually silk type drapes that I have folded and placed on the dining room table and island in the kitchen. I'll keep searching. I'll keep wanting some LIFE in my life!

Bye-Bye Baby

Yes, it is out with the old. Bye-bye big huge take-over-the room armoire.  Even though I paid $$$ for you and searched until I found you. It's time to go.

You overtook my fireplace. You created a barrier into the dining room. But...I didn't worry about those little things. Because I liked you. 

But, things changed. People began selling those babies--on Craig's List and Ebay...all. the.time. It was an omen. Yes, your days were limited. 

What began as a thoughtful search for the perfect Christmas gift for Mr. Spouse ended your reign. I ordered your replacement for a mere $30 and that included shipping. A metal bracket. A morning project. And...you were gone--at least your top half was. We kept a part of you to hold our receiver, Direct TV box, DVD player. And...

I think I will always remember you---as long as you are sitting in my garage I cannot possibly forget you!

Home Office Work Zone

Other than the recliner with trusty laptop--well I do have a spare bedroom that I consider my office. I've been inspired lately by two beautiful home offices that I cannot compete with. Take a look here and here
Oh, these are definitely a showcase.

I started with baby steps. First up--change the color of my bookcase and computer desk from two different shades of brown to basic black.

Baby step 1: sand the table lightly and clean the dust off! /And of course I'm trying to accomplish this task IN the office and not IN the garage. HMMMM may want to reconsider that next time.

The actual re-staining didn't take long at all. And it actually dried in a couple of hours and I was able to put the second touch up coat on.

Pardon the mess surrounding the desk. I keep telling fussing at my husband that we really need to do something with all those cords!  Another project is adding some additional storage!

Step 2: Use the above polyshades and change the bookcase. This project did NOT go as planned. It seemed that the bookcase was not real wood. Stain and laminate = bad combination.

It appears black. But if one (ME) touches it, the color is flaking off. Sadsville! Double SADSVILLE!
But for now, it will stay. Next project is to put together one of those nine cube section bookcases (already black!!!) to get the bookcase organized in a better combination.

Until step 3--I'm trying!