Paint Palooza and other random things

Happy Halloween!!!  Mondays are traditionally my day to get things done.  Besides the usual chores and scheduling to-do's like bathe the dog <done>, call for paint recycling pick up <done>, reschedule dentist appointments <done>, three loads of laundry <done>, crock pot dinner <done>, bills <done>, I deemed today spray paint day.

Here are a few of the current takers for a new coat of fabulous!

I'm thinking some greys, maybe my favorite teal and an orange I have been wanting to try.  I even found a few more pieces to paint after this picture was taken.

Have I told you that spray paint is the best invention ever?  Tips to remember when spray painting = use a good spray primer before painting and let it adequately dry.  Your primer allows for better adhesion of your paint to an object and will allow you to skip the step of sanding.  Take your time and use the right distance so there are no drips or globs.  Then, do a couple of coats of quality spray paint with plenty of drying time between coats.  The key is take your time, spray evenly, use the appropriate distance from your object to prevent over spraying and drips and of course read the directions on the can.  Unfortunately, there is not a huge selection of spray paint colors but it is improving and manufacturers have created some interesting lines that have different textures and metal finishes.  I will post the finished products when they are all dry and in their proper place.

Random #1
Are you HomeGoods happy?  My favorite store on the planet...I have actually even gotten my kids hooked on taking a trip with me every once and a while.  It is definitely the type of place where you need to visit often, because inventory changes frequently.  If you see something you love, you better get it then, because it may not be there when you get back.

Here's my latest treasure!!!  A linen, tufted round ottoman.  She's a gem isn't she?  So cute and puffy!  I had been looking for an ottoman to place in front of my grandma's arm chairs in the family room so folks could prop up their feet and stay a while.  I have a lot of angles and square furniture in the family room (couch, coffee table, entertainment center) and so I was definitely looking for a round ottoman, which turned out to be harder than thought.  But I finally found one and she was only $59. 

Random #2
My sources for all the re*furbished home furnishings and decorative pieces are resale shops and antique malls.  Here is my latest stash of great finds waiting to be re*furbished.  I am still thinking of what to do with it all.  The frames will be repainted, the chair needs a little tlc but has a great cane-back, and the keys I just couldn't resist!!

Hope your day is filled with the opportunity to get things done both random and planned!

Gallery Wall Inspiration

I love the idea of a gallery wall and have started the planning process to create one.  Through a little research on the web and some inspiration from Pinterest, I found a few things that I thought might be helpful to share so you can create a fantastic gallery wall for your home.

First up, some inspiration photos taken from Pinterest!

This collection is pulled together with matching frames arranged in a linear square configuration.  Gorgeous!

Black frames positioned in a random arrangement with pops of color.

Photo wall using ledges, accessories, candles and lighting from Pottery Barn.

Black and white photos in black frames with the addition of a typeface letter.  This arrangement takes up a good amount of space and would be great for an entry or family room where you are trying to cover vertical space.



This collection covers a lot of wall space both vertically and horizontally, has a random arrangement and uses various brightly colored frames.

Gallery walls can fit into every room in your home.  The traditional spaces are hallways, stairways and libraries.  But really they can go anywhere - in an entry hall, bathroom, over a bed (can act as a visual headboard), in a media room, dining room, where ever you are looking to fill up wall space with interesting objects. 

And the contents for gallery walls are endless!!  What about empty brightly painted vintage frames?  You can use a collection of mirrors arranged to create a beautiful reflective wall.  What about a wall gallery of your child's art, using coordinating frames in similar sizes to group the collection. What about framing vintage fabric or linens?  Have some gorgeous plates or platters that you don't see except on those special occasions - what a great way to get them out of the cabinet and on display than through a gallery wall.  You can use ledges or shelves to create additional dimension for resting your frames on.  Large typeface letters, memory boxes, framed postcards ...all have a place in a personal collection.  You can group together similar objects that contain an inspiration color, ie. creating a group that has pops of turquoise within them.  You can group your collection by matching frames like all black, white, silver or gold.  Or maybe, they don't match at all!!!  What a great way to create a conversation piece in a room.  The options are endless.

A few things to remember, when creating a gallery for a stairway, try to follow the upward slant of the stairs for creating your vision line.  When creating collections on room walls, general rule of thumb is to create a center point at eye level or 5 ft from the ground as your starting point and add your pictures from there.  A great option to help you with your layout is to trace an outline of each of the individual frames you plan to hang on brown craft paper (you can buy on rolls at your local craft store).  Cut out the outlines.  Use blue painters tape and tape the paper outlines to your wall to work through the best configuration for your wall.  You can easily move around until you find the arrangement that looks best for your room.  This approach helps to save you from putting a lot of unnecessary holes in your wall.  When you determine your arrangement, hammer in your hanging nails through the craft paper.  After the nail is secured, tear off the paper, then hang your pictures where your nails remain. 

For sourcing your frames, I suggest starting with places like Marshall's, TJ Maxx and Home Goods.  I have found reasonably priced single frames and multiple opening frames at these stores.   Hobby Lobby frequently puts their frames on sale for 50% off or you can use the 40% off coupon for when they are full price.

Here's some help for determining your gallery configuration.  As you can see, there are numerous options for how to create your gallery.

(source: Ann Beck Photography)

(source: Melissa Davis Photography)

Happy hanging! Have a great gallery wall idea you would like to share?

Ta-Da!

And for the big reveal...

Before

                                                                            

After

                                                                    

Here's the finished product from my yellow Thomasville 1973 re-do (previous post).  I love the way it turned out.  This looks great in my office and will be functional storage for paint and fabric samples!

I gently sanded the whole dresser with my sander mouse and a light grit sandpaper.  Wiped the dresser clean.  I then applied a generous coat of primer with a sponge brush.  Don't worry about the brush marks at this point, just make sure there are not any drips or clumps.  I waited several hours and then did 3 coats of the paint color with a good paintbrush. Waiting until each coat is thoroughly dry in between.  I finished the top with several coats of clear coat for protection since it will get a lot of use.

I used Martha Stewart's Araucana Teal from Home Depot.  I got the color in a Satin finish with primer added in.  I love this light, bright and cheery color.   Don't you think it looks like it has smiley face now??  It's so glad to no longer be the yucky yellow!

And here is a close-up of the handles.  I used Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze paint and primer in one for these.  Not only did it change the color, it added some texture as well.

Stay tuned for the reveal of my Louis XVI chair - it has been a fun project as well.  Totally changed my mind on the fabric - it is turning out great!

Faux-bamboo Dresser

For my next project, I found a bright yellow faux bamboo 1970's Thomasville dresser.  I love the decorative details around the legs and the knobs are so vintage looking.  The top surface is a tricky one - it is white Formica, FORMICA?  Yes, doesn't seem right, but I looked past that and bought it anyway.  It will make a colorful addition to my office. 

Here's the before picture.  I will need alot of primer for this one.  The paint is yellow with what looks like a faint splatter of gold accents.  Yes, a totally 70's look.

I plan to paint it a light teal and paint the knobs an aged bronze metallic.  Stay tuned...will post pictures when it is done.  Can't wait to see how this one turns out!