Rocking Along

It's been a fun filled day thus far this lovely Friday morning. The DMV has had me waiting almost two hours. Luckily my trips to the DMV are few and far between.

On a more enjoyable note, I wanted to share my latest project with you and show you some before and afters. It's such beautiful time of year and a great time to spruce up the backyard. I know for me, I'm looking forward to many BBQ's and being with friends.

I've had these rockers given to me years ago and they never tire. They've gone through some wear and tear (as you can see). These are some before's I captured. With so many coats of paint throughout the years, it was time for some sanding. Very simple to do. Just make sure you wear a mask.

{In need of some TLC}

{Side table before}

All you need is a simple sander, stain, and some spray paint.

I chose a brighter green (Leafy Green) in satin and put on a light Lacquer to finish them off. I like the Satin over the Flat!

Viola...several hours later, here are the after's. 

{Stained it a black finish}

{Makes a cozy sitting place}

{Also spray painted this table yellow and bought some new outdoor yellow pillows to tie it together}

This is my next project for the backyard. I'm going to sand this one down and finish it off with some teak oil.

Have a great weekend!!

Pretty Blinds

Over the weekend, my dad and I installed some new blinds for the French doors in our den. They were very much needed. Not only for privacy issues, but to also keep the glare off the television.

{Before}

I ventured to my other favorite place besides home, Lowes. They have a wonderful selection of wooden blinds as well as natural woven shades. I prefer the woven to anything. I love the texture they provide a room, plus they look amazing and are pretty inexpensive. You can also have them custom cut at Lowes to fit the window/s you need.

So I wanted to share this easy fix with you and point you in the right direction if your needing help in that department. With my dad's help, we finished the project in less than an hour:)

As far as my choice selection, I went with something lighter, but not too light. I didn't want to go too dark either. The shade I chose was Origami. Right in the middle.

{After}

Thanks for stopping by and remember, if you have a design dilemma and need help, 

contact me about our design services!

So "Succulent"

I've been wanting to buy some succulents for a ceramic pot I bought recently. Succulents are very "hot" right now and I've heard are pretty easy to grow. You can see them at Restoration Hardware and they are gorgeous.

{Image via vignettedesign.blogspot.com/}

                             

So today, I decided to try my hand at planting some succulents I picked up at Home Depot. They carry lots of varieties so I bought a few. I wanted to make sure I got enough to make my display look full. Hopefully they grow out nicely. Will be interesting to see how they do. 

{Several different varieties}

{Fill up 1/3 of dirt in pot}

Tip: Also, just a little tip I've learned when planting in containers and pots. Once you take the plant out of plastic, break up the roots real good and soak those in water. I typically dunk the roots in water for a few seconds and then place them in the dirt. Also, when planting in containers, you don't have to be afraid to plant flowers close to each other. The closer the better and I've had lots of luck with my containers doing it that way. 

{Always a good choice}

{Viola}

Will take additional pictures in a month or so to show you how pretty they've got (I hope).

Make it a good day!

New Find! Love Craigslist!

It's been awhile since my last post and lot's of progress with the house thus far. I haven't posted pictures yet because things are still not quite finished yet. With work and running around, I haven't been able to get everything done yet and I know I'm not expected too. It definitely takes time and I don't want to rush the process.

I've been trying to focus on one room at a time, but I've been a little all over the place. Today I'm excited to show you my find on Craigslist. I've been wanting an iron bed for the guestroom and found one today! $75 dollars!! Can't beat it. I've already got it home and cleaned it up real well. The seller told me the original buyers loved antiquing and flea markets. He believes the iron bed was picked up during the 1950's and possibly as old as the turn of the century, no older than the 1920's. Very cool. He also threw in an old singer sewing machine that I can use as a plant stand somewhere.

Sometimes it's so easy to run out and buy what you need rather than waiting and taking the time to find something you love. For me, I shop around (A LOT) and wait for it to find me.

                                                     {bed frame for guestroom via Craigslist $75}

{breakfast dining via Craigslist $350}

{fabric for chairs via Cutting Corners}

Thanks for stopping by! More to come. Just bought some great new fabric for a few projects in the works.

Time for beddy byyy. Have a great day!