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  • Using Chalk Paint To Create A Faux Natural Wood Finish!

    I don’t always follow trends in design, but one trend I have been transitioning too is the use of lighter more natural looking wood tones. I love the organic look and warmth it gives to the space. I recently rearranged my family room which included placing a half circle table in front of a window. The table had been painted and needed a refresh. Many of the pieces already in the room have natural wood tones. The piece in question is not good wood therefore not a candidate for refinishing using stain. I have been experimenting with chalk paint to create a faux wood finish and thought this would be the perfect piece to try it on . Since the body was in good shape, I decided to just use the technique on the top. Let’s get to it! The top was in rough shape. It was hidden behind the couch before, and no one could see it. Not anymore! The first step in the process was applying two coats of Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint. Sometimes I use water to thin the chalk paint. In this case I wanted a thicker base to work with. The thicker base enabled me to create a faux wood grain by painting in one direction, you can see the grooves in this picture. I did not get pictures of the second step which was to paint another two coats of chalk paint this time using Annie French Linen. Once the paint was dry, I used Waverly Antique sealant. I have used it on other projects and loved the richness of color and natural wood look it gives. It may seem like a waste of time using two different types of chalk paint then covering it with a dark sealant. But I can tell you from experience just using one type of chalk paint or just the sealant will not give you the same look. Layering is the key to getting a natural wood appearance. When applying the sealant, I went in the direction of the grooves that were created using chalk paint, again adding to the look of real wood. The color was a little uneven . I created a wash using Annie Sloan Old White Chalk paint and water to help even it out. First, I misted the tabletop using a spray bottle then applied the chalk paint. Using an old tee shirt, I wiped off the excess. To get in the crevices I used a small paint brush. At this point I liked everything I did thus far, but felt it still needed more movement I took a chance and added Annie Sloan Old White, French Linen and Honfleur Chalk Paint. The worst case being I would have to start all over again. Been there, done that before! Not an issue! In my mind I could see different striations of color going in the direction of the faux wood grain. Using a large chip brush, I dipped it into the three colors without mixing it. I used a dry paper towel to off load and began to brush in the direction of the wood grain. I kept brushing until there was no more paint, then repeated he process. If you were not sure what I meant by movement, this is it! The different color tones and lines creating the look of real wood. I am really happy the way the table came out. It definitely looks like real wood and will look great in the space. I styled the table in the dining room, but it will eventually find its place in our family room in front of the window. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like' and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

  • Tips On How To Create A Large Flower Arrangement!

    I have a gorgeous crock that I actually found on the side of the road, which I use to display artificial or dried seasonal flowers. It took me a while to come up with a way to style the flowers and keep them in place. Initially, I tried using flower foam blocks, but they broke apart easily and created quite a mess. I also attempted to use paper towels to create space between the stems, but in this case, you could not move the arrangement without disrupting the design. While browsing through my favorite craft store, I saw something that I would not have considered before. I had been looking for something that would support the flowers from the base, but this time I thought, why not secure the flowers from the top of the crock? Not really finding any other solution, I purchased it and took it home to try. Let me show what I am talking about: This is what I found at the craft store: a floral disc (all products used in this post will be listed at the end). I believed that by placing the disc on top of the crock and poking stems through it, I could design an arrangement that would stay in place even when moved. To start, I placed the disc on the crock. Next, I poked a hole using a screwdriver in the middle of the disc and began to place the stems. Once I knew it was going to work, I trimmed the edges but still kept enough on the sides so it would not slip down. Continuously adding floral stems, I would step back to check where the next one was needed. Once all the stems were in place, I positioned it on a stool facing outwards for a final inspection. After making sure that everything was to my liking, I carefully trimmed the remaining part of the disc's edge to ensure a snug fit, taking care not to cut off too much. To hide the disc, I placed moss on top. I am very pleased with the design of the arrangement, and what's even better is that it stays in place when I move it. The arrangement above was for spring. I recently made another arrangement for fall using dried hydrangea stems. (A big thank you to my neighbor Sue for giving me some of her flowers so I could finish). Repeating the same process as the spring arrangement, I began placing the dried hydrangeas. This is the result! I will most definitely be using this method again in all of my flower arrangements. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products Used: FloraCraft® CraftFōM Disc White Cream Blossom Branch Stem by Ashland®

  • School Faculty Room Makeover on a Budget

    After being in public grade school education for seventeen years, most recently with eighth graders at Johanna Perrin Middle School in Fairport, N.Y., I decided to retire to pursue my creative passions. Before my departure, there was one thing I wanted to accomplish, and that was to "zhuzh up" the faculty lounge. This idea has been spinning around in my head for years. Every time I had a lunch break, I would imagine different ways to make the space better. After receiving approval to work on the space from the principal (with no allocated budget), my initial step was to enlist some help. Paula, another retiring colleague recognized for her creativity and artistic skills, accepted the invitation, and we put the plan in motion. The faculty lounge is a moderately-sized room with a small kitchenette that includes a sink, counter, cabinets, refrigerator, microwave, and toaster oven. The rest of the room was filled with mismatched furniture pieces that had been collected over the years. The walls were painted light yellow and blue, and the only adornments on the walls were two large bulletin boards. It was a functional room but lacked personality and warmth. While looking over the lounge furniture to see if anything could be salvaged, I came upon the green chairs that had been there since I arrived. During my lunches in the lounge, I often wondered where they came from and how long they had been at the school. To satisfy my curiosity, I asked some of my colleagues. To my surprise, everyone seemed to say the same thing: the chairs were there when they arrived. The furthest account was from a teacher who retired after 32 years, and he concurred that the chairs were there when he began at the school. The exact date or where they came from still remains a mystery, but they had undoubtedly served their purpose. In the spirit of Marie Kondo, I expressed gratitude for their long service before pushing them out the door. Not being able to change the cabinets, countertops, refrigerator or floors. I focused on things I could change like the bulletin boards, wall paint and furniture. Starting with the bulletin boards, which were in good condition but needed to be repainted, and the outdated '70s fabric replaced. Once the boards were painted, I attached linen fabric with spray adhesive, smoothed it out, trimmed excess, tucked the rest under the frame, and concealed uneven areas with black cording using hot glue. Following that, I tackled the walls, painting them a gray-beige color to brighten the space. The faculty lounge is a perfect example of why I love paint in interior design. It can take a room like this and immediately transform it from "drab to fab" — sorry about that, I think I'm still feeling the '70s vibe from those bulletin boards. For furniture, I checked Facebook Marketplace and Goodwill. Found two chair sets on Facebook and side tables at Goodwill, all at reasonable prices. The first chair set was easy to disassemble for painting and cleaning the upholstery. I used the same color paint as the bulletin boards, adding two layers and sealing it with polyurethane for durability (which is needed especially if they need to last another 32 years). The second set of chairs appealed to me because they matched the color tones in the kitchen cabinets, and the rattan was easy to clean. After sanding the arms and legs, I applied two coats of the same paint used on the bulletin boards and the first set of chairs, then sealed them with polyurethane. The orange-reddish color on the tables had to go. I sanded them and applied a whitewash finish to the tops, then painted the bottom black. When the bulletin boards were moved to the other side of the room, a large wall area was left that needed to be filled. Keeping the lack of budget in mind, I looked at the resources on hand. From a previous project, I had cover prints of "The New Yorker Magazine" that were purchased from Etsy. In addition, there were two large blank artist canvases in storage that could be used. In order to save time, we split the tasks: I went to Kinko's to have the prints made and to find frames, while Paula took the canvases to work on creating color block art. With everything in place, the kitchen area was still not meshing with the rest of the room. To bring it together I found peel and stick wallpaper to use as a backsplash. I was very apprehensive about hanging the wallpaper, but I didn't have to be. Paula was awesome and came with everything that was needed to hang wallpaper, including a level. Yeah, Paula! We went through two rolls of wallpaper, and it took us more than three hours, but it was looking great. The next day, I returned to caulk around the sink and countertop, giving it a more realistic appearance. It was a beast of a job, but the results were next level and absolutely worth the effort. The final reveal: Kitchenette I love this wallpaper it looks so real people actually touch it to see if it is brick. The colors in the wallpaper work so well. It even makes the generic cabinets look good! Kudos to our custodial staff for cutting an old sewing machine cabinet so the microwave, and toaster oven would both fit in the kitchenette area. Eating Area If budget permits, the school now plans to acquire individual small square tables that can provide more seating options but can also be combined to accommodate large groups. Seating Areas The rattan chairs tied in with the cabinets and floor, but I needed them to pick up the color in other set of chairs. As luck would have it, I was at Good Will, and I found two outdoor pillows (wipeable) that worked with the color of the chairs and the artwork. Booyah! Artwork Paula did a great job pulling colors from the prints to create her color block paintings. Just a little reminder of where we began. Before and After Even though we will not be using the faculty room ourselves (because of our retirement), we were absolutely thrilled to be able to contribute to its revitalization. It gave us great pleasure to leave our mark in such a meaningful way before our departure. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new post as they are created. As always, I love to receive comments, keep them coming! Products used: Magnolia Cabinet Paint Black Scotch Spray Adhesive Etsy New Yorker Art Prints NextWall Peel and Stick Wallpaper

  • Goodwill Filing Cabinet Transformation Part Two!

    The first part of this transformation began with my need for a filing cabinet to help me become more organized. After researching new cabinets that were wooden and stylish but also cost-prohibitive, I went to Goodwill where I found a metal cabinet (not my first choice) for $2. The drawers worked, but the outside was a mess. For $2, I decided to give it a try. After cleaning it and removing the lock and drawer, then filling the gaps with bonding agent, the post concluded with me sanding and applying a primer to prepare the cabinet for the next stages. This brings us to this post and the completion of our transformation. Let's get to it: Recap of last post cleaning-removing-bonding agent-sanding The wooden cabinets I had found online had molding around the edges. In an attempt to replicate the look, I asked my husband to cut some trim pieces that we could attach to the front of each drawer. As soon as I placed the pieces on the drawer, I knew we were heading in the right direction. To adhere the trim, we used a liquid glue (products used will be listed at the end of the post) and then filled in the corners with spackle, leaving it to dry overnight. The next day, after sanding and prepping for painting, I opened up my beautiful blue color choice (all products used will be listed at the end of the post). I used a brush for the first coat, then switched to a roller to get a smoother finish. To seal the cabinet, I used a clear wax. I ordered new handles much better than the pulls and feet to make it look more like a furniture piece.   I must admit that I prefer the refinished metal cabinet over the wooden cabinets I initially wanted. Now it's time to organize. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products Used: Zinsser Bullseye 123 Primer Liquid Nails Adhesive Dap- DRYDEK Heavy Duty Spackling Annie Sloan Aubusson Chalk Paint Annie Sloan Clear Wax

  • Pantry Door Makeover Part Two: The Reveal!

    Recap of part one: I purchased an antique door for our new pantry. Even though my brain was telling me not to purchase the door, my heart won out and I purchased it anyway. This decision led to a large amount of work, which included stripping, sanding, and repairing, resulting in a large amount of time invested. Hence, that's why there is a Part Two. With the door sanded and ready to go, I felt like it needed something to elevate its appearance. I chose to add molding around the glass at the top and the panels at the bottom, giving it the finished look I wanted. After applying two coats of Kilz paint as a primer, I then painted the door in a blue shade that complements the colors in my home. Although I hope that my pantry will remain organized (a girl can dream, right?), I wanted to block the view in some way. To achieve this, I found gold wire mesh sheeting at a local big box store that coordinated with the accents in our kitchen. By cutting out four rectangular shapes with wire cutters and affixing them using the remaining molding from the glass front, I achieved the perfect amount of coverage while still allowing light into the pantry. The finished pantry door. I am in love with everything about it. The color, gold mesh, doorknob, and especially its uniqueness. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

  • Christmas decorating with “Good Will” finds!

    Throughout the year, I search for Christmas decorations at Good Will. In fact, some of my best finds have been made during the summer months. For instance, I once came across a basket filled with greenery that caught my eye. While others may have seen a dingy basket of greenery, I saw a collection of materials that could be used for my Christmas decorations, all for the price of $2.99. The basket, which was in perfect condition, not only contained holiday picks but also had floral foam blocks and moss. The only thing I had to do was clean everything up a bit. Out of curiosity, I decided to check the prices of these items to see how much I saved. I found all the products on the Michaels website. The hyacinth basket was priced at $18.99, the individual pinecones at $0.99 each, the two types of pine tree branches at $7.49 and $4.49 each, the magnolia leaves at $13.99 each, the red berries at $4.49 each, the floral foam blocks at $10.99 each, and lastly, the moss at $24.00 for the largest bag. Altogether, the total comes to $157.30, resulting in a savings of $154.31. This experience reinforced my belief in carefully examining things before passing them by. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

  • Holiday Decor Ideas!

    Today, I began decorating for the holidays! My decorating style has changed over the years. Before, I would spend hours clearing a room and then bring in holiday decorations. However, I got tired of having to pack and unpack everything. Now, instead of removing items, I prefer to try to work them into the holiday theme (little secret: if something can't be worked in, I tuck it behind the couch or in a drawer. Don't tell anyone). I recently applied this approach to two large Pottery Barn vases that sit on my mantle. I currently have pussy willows in the two vases. Not only are they beautiful, but the neutral color lends itself to adding other elements. Armed with holly berry stems, fir-pine sprigs, and additional pussy willows, I got to work. There really is no right or wrong way to do this. I placed one stem in at a time, stepping back periodically to see how it looked and tweaking if needed. Next, I added pine sprigs around the rim for balance. Remember to walk around the vase to make sure all angles look good. When everything was done, I took stems out and placed them where there might have been empty space. The last thing I did was tie a bow on the vase. I will not lie; it took me more than an hour to do each vase. I think the result was worth the time put in. I guess I still spend a lot of time decorating, but at least I will not have to drag things back in. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

  • Holiday Finishing Touches!

    With my annual holiday party coming up, I took Friday off from work with all intentions of cleaning. But as it happens, I got sidetracked. Sometimes this happens to me (a lot really). It started by tweaking one holiday decoration, then another and another, and another until a few hours had gone by and no cleaning in sight. It looked great though, and I checked that off my to-do list! I will not be giving you any cleaning tips (Ha Ha), but I will share what I did! Starting on the outside I tweaked my flower boxes. These were the easiest Christmas flower box I have ever done! I bought greens from Wegmans, laid them in the bottom, placed the lantern in the middle, added three holiday stems from Michael’s on either side of the lantern, and topped it off with ribbon. Voilà! Time to back inside it is cold. Inside I started with the Newel Post. It is the first thing you see as you walk in the house. So welcoming! These are the vases I had been working on, along with the finished mantle! All the stockings are hung by the faux chimney with care! These are the vases I had been working on, along with the finished mantle! All the stockings are hung by the faux chimney with care! These were such a find! I got them at the after Christmas sale at Target. They are the perfect color and style for my living room. In the dining room I tied a bow around the lantern and added a candle. This guy has been with us forever! I used to have him outside sitting on a sled every year. You can tell his gloves used to be a brighter green. He’s earned his stripes and now has a permanent spot in the house every Christmas! I am going to leave you now. I had better get back to cleaning. If you liked this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

  • Music Cabinet Redo Part One!

    My mother-in-law gave us an amazing vintage music cabinet that was originally used to hold sheet music and vinyl records. We were excited to receive the cabinet and brought it home with us. However, I painted the cabinet with blue chalk paint, which I disliked, and since I was unsure of how to use it, I decided to store it away. A few years later, I was looking through a magazine and saw a cabinet that had been transformed into a stylish bar. The article made me think of our cabinet and why I couldn't do the same. Guess what? That is exactly what I decided to do! After getting the cabinet out of storage, the first thing I did was fill in the decorative florets on either side. They did not fit in with the vision I have for the cabinet. I chose black chalk paint (all products used will be listed at the end of the post) this time as it goes better with the style of the cabinet. The paint dried a little lighter than I wanted, but I resolved that by adding black wax to darken the color and seal it. Although I liked where the piece was going, I needed some type of wow factor. Initially considering a mirror on the cabinet's back but opted for gold leafing instead because of the cost.   It is best to work in one small area at a time. Once you brush on the adhesive, you need to wait 45 minutes before placing the sheets on. The small area above took two hours. I loved the final result, but gold leafing is definitely not for the faint of heart. If you haven't guessed it, I am turning the cabinet into to a bar. Alas I have run out of time and energy. Stay tuned for Music Cabinet Redo Part Two! P.S:  If you haven't guessed it, I am turning the cabinet into to a bar. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new post as they are created. See below for product information. Products used : Annie Sloan Athenian Chalk Paint Annie Sloan Black Wax Metal Leaf Adhesive by Cratf smart Gold Metal Leaf by Art minds

  • Ideas On How To Entertaining In A Small Space.

    My husband had asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I said I would like to celebrate with my friends and family. The guest list totaled seventeen which left us wondering how we could accommodate everyone (my birthday is in February no sitting outside). We eventually figured it out and had an amazing evening of fun, food, friends and family. Let's see how we did it! This is our dining room. I love it, but it would not hold seventeen people! This is our family room. No room here for seventeen people either unless you move all the furniture around in your house. We moved the family room furniture into the dining room. I have to say I am loving the wall color and chandelier with this furniture! Then we moved the dining room furniture into the family room. We added another table and chairs, which pays off when you refinish furniture and have seventeen chairs available to use. The seating was taken care of, leaving the menu which my husband was in charge of. It consisted of lasagna, roast pork tenderloins with cherry sauce, Greek chicken kabobs, maple mashed sweet potatoes, asparagus bundles wrapped in bacon, and tossed salad with homemade honey mustard dressing. He also baked two cakes, one chocolate and one white cake (the white one is my favorite). I know, right!! It was a perfect birthday celebration surrounded by my family and friends. The next day we moved everything back, rested and reminisced about the night before. Not everyone would want to move furniture to accommodate a large crowd, but for us it was the perfect solution. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are

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