{ Nightstand to Shoe-rack }

Happy Monday folks! Hope you all had a fabulous sunny summer weekend! We had lots of fun enjoying our gazebo area off our back patio { about time } ! I 've had this little DIY in mind for quite sometime now, but didn't have the right little chest,stand, buffet etc..whatever you may to call it! Well, that all changed a few weeks ago when some thrifty little 3 drawer stand came to us! It was perfect for our back door shoe-rack redo!! I didn't mind the cheap espresso finish Target one we had ,but lets face it it's style-less & the shoes were in the open..kinda blah..! I was on a mission to finish it today even if that meant gagging from the stale barn smell coming from this little stand! I ended up sanding for 30 minutes & using three different spray paint colors/finishes to get the product the way I wanted { rustic chic }! By the end of the project I had a headache, was covered in dust & blowing spray paint out of my nose..no joke! After all that the finished project is PERFECTLY imperfect, just the way I like my decor pieces ;)!

  

I started first by spraying the stand down with some water & vinegar ,because it's seriously the smelliest piece of furniture I've ever worked on!! I  let the stand sit in the sun before spraying a cream spray paint all over it for a base. I then sanded, and essentially blended that color, then applied a flat white spray paint coat & repeated the first step. After these two colors were sanded & blended I used the palm sander to rough up the natural wood underneath in certain spots. The end color was a creamy grey with natural distressed undertones. The custom color process was so worth the work. Now for the inside of the stand..I took the two remaining drawers out & sprayed the whole inside with a silver metallic spray paint! I let that sit for about 15 minutes & took the palm sander to that color & roughed up that color { the paint was still a bit tacky} . Be sure to use an old pad on your sander ,because having the paint tacky will ruin your new sandpaper pad. I used an old one just enough to rough up certain areas. After this step I applied a brown 'hammered' color spray paint & it took amazing to the roughed up spots. This process was not an easy hour spray session. I used four total different colors, palm sander & elbow grease! I love how the paint treatment turned out!! It's custom & one of a kind! I will mention, I did like the before color which was plain cream that had chipped & exposed the natural wood color & in some spots the grain..but the smell & paint needed to be freshened up to say the least!! 

**Our old shoe-rack is still being used{ salvaged} he-he,but is now outside our patio door for summer shoes & my husbands dirty boots !

Smelliest piece of furniture I've had the pleasure of transforming ;)!

 

The inside treatment! I love how the metallic silver pops up from the brown hammered color for that distressed/aged appeal!

 

Three mixed & sanded colors !

Note: The finish is smooth not rough even with the chips!

 

Look at how much charm this little guys has!!

  

The Basket was a thrifty find & the silver watering can was a free garbage find! 

 

Water,sunglasses & key tray..grab & go ;)!

 

Hope you have enjoyed this charming little DIY  $5 dollar nightstand, that turned shoe-rack charmer ! This whole project cost under $20!!!

Paige.Rose

*** I am in no way sponsored or endorsed by San Pellegrino water!

{ Summer Flowers '14 }

Hey! Hope you all are having a fantastic week thus far! It's been so beautiful here in the north it finally feels like summer is arriving ! This past Sunday the hubs & I visited some local little markets & flower stands/nurseries in search of some cute flowers for our front patio & yard. The first  little local plant stand had some gorgeous flowers,but were to generic for me { of course } so we stopped in at Home Depot & they were pretty much out ..& generic as well. We decided to visit our local Trader Joe's & I was so happy we did! As soon as we walked in the cute little rustic stand was filled with bunches of different flowers including my FAVORITE Hydrangeas!! You bet we snagged four bundles { all of their  stock } ! On the way home we stopped at another local Market  {Cantoro's} & another plant stand! We ended up picking up some gorgeous mature hanging pots! They were just what I was looking for in hangers ,color & all. 

Happy summer potting & planting to all!!

 

These were purchased at one of our local family owned  nurseries { Steinkopf Nursery} ! They were $30 each or BOGO half off!

 

One of my favorite shots!

 

I have Hydrangea madness ..can you tell?

 

How beautiful are these 'Early Blue' hydrangeas from Trader Joe's ?!

 

Side Note: The grass in the middle is not dead, it's sprouting fresh green..I love my grass plants, but this one was looking a tad on the dead side!

 

Each of these bundles was only $6.99 @ Trader Joe's! 

Thanks for stopping by our  little flower garden,until next time :)!

Paige.Rose

{ Salvaged DIY Fire- pit Bench }

Well,bummer to the weekend being over almost,but what an awesome weekend it sure was! I did manage to get a little work/picture time in to finish the  quick little fire- pit bench I was working on. This bench was a free garbage find. We went to Home Depot ,and purchased four cans of spray paint ,and a clearance stencil. I went with a brown hammered spray paint & bought one can of cream to use on the stencil area. I didn't end up using all four cans of spray paint ,but will be useful for further touch ups. The bench was in rough condition..chipping paint,dry rot..bugs etc..& who knows what else, but it was wayyy to cute to throw out. It was free so I decided to spruce it up a bit, although I did think about repairing the wood & sanding it a bit. It's for the fire-pit area so it's not perfect & that's the charm. Just a quick little post for the opening of all the summer festivities/ DIY ahead ;)! 

Have a great week everyone!

{ Before } 

Poor guy needed some TLC! 

 

{ After }

 

$15 in spray paint & $3 stencils..for a free bench! Eventually it may need some little repairs if it's still around after this summer...

 

Side Note:  The gravel area needs some edging ..note taken!!

 

Sometimes the simple & rustic charm is better then a new item ;)!

 

The crate & milk pitcher  were thrift finds on the cheap!

Paige.Rose

{ Bread Box Re-do}

It's that time again ..the weekend :)! I've got a lot going on in the Blog world today,from new post to re-do projects & everything in between..yikes! Okay, everyone brace yourself ..here is the infamous Bread Box reveal..yes, the dang bread box I looked everywhere for!! Well, my lovely parents came across one for under $5..&picked it up { 1970's flashback} but had so much potential! Here is the re-do !!

{ Before }

 

The size is approx. 12x9 in.

 

Although I wasn't born yet, I believe the 1970's are missing a treasure ..screaming tangerine orange & all :) !

  

First coat of Annie Sloan chalk paint

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{ After }

 

I used the the famous Annie Sloan Chalk paint in Old Ochre, & then used the brand Americana Decor creme wax { Michaels 2 for $20} in 'deep brown'! I love the vintage aged look the creme wax gave.

 

The letters are not painted on..they're actually ' Mambi Sticks' in a matte finish from Michaels for $6!

 

The little silver trays are just for staging/ quick use.

 

Storing all kinds of goodies for the kitchen...love!!

I hope you all enjoyed this simple & easy little redo on an old 1970's bread box..now lets hope my dear husband doesn't waste any more bread hehe!

Paige.Rose

{ Up-cycled Coffee Table }

Hey! What a bright & breezy day here, it's quite refreshing outside today with just a touch of warmth from sun ..ahhh,right?! Well, as you may know on Saturday I visited the sweetest little boutique & picked up some chalk paint. I got right to work on what I wanted to use these little beauts on! We were given a 1980's coffee table that needed some serious TLC! One of my husbands friends was getting rid of it & as soon as he sent me the picture asking if I wanted it I knew that I did!! I had the perfect idea & well now that idea is finished & sitting beautifully in our upstairs family room. I sanded a layer of the old & chipped finish off the top...whoa what a process...I first tried an espresso stain ,but that didn't look so great.. I only tried this ,because I was becoming discouraged about trying to locate some lovely Annie Sloan chalk paint! Thanks to Nada & Co. Home Decor Restyled   I was able to purchase some awesome Annie Sloan paint,& finish my little project!

~Steps & finished product below ~

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1.) Wash with water { lightly} any grime or dust away!

Poor thing needed some immediate TLC...

 

2.) Remove any hardware! I also like to place the hardware in a drawer if the piece has one,&screw the removed screws from each piece on the back. This helps keep appropriate screws from getting mixed up or lost!

  

3.) Open & mix the paint/pick your brush!

 

               4.) Begin painting! I always begin from bottom to top, it's easier to paint this way in my opinion.

 

5.) First coat of  Old Ochre by Annie Sloan!

 

Step 6.) Apply the clear  Annie Sloan wax all over for a finished & waterproof table/piece. The wax can be applied with a brush or cloth. It retails for $25!

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* Click above picture for larger view*

 

Note: The hardware is original & untouched. The flower pot was a free find & the doves are from Michaels.

 

I picked up some cute baskets for $12 @ Michaels & added a yummy vanilla candle!

 

I ended up distressing a few parts..sides,bottom etc..

**After painting the top Graphite by Annie Sloan,I decided I liked the original wood color better,but the sanding was endless. I'm still quite happy with the finished project! I completed this project for under $150. The table was free & the paint was $150 for around 3-4 quarts,but goes  a super long way & I have plenty left over for other projects!  

I hope you've enjoyed this simple & refreshing up-cycled project!

Paige.Rose

{ Chalk Paint mania ..}

 --Warning-Long-Post--

 Well, what a fantastic Saturday if I do say so myself! My husband & I took a mini  trip to one of our little  towns { Royal Oak} & stopped in @ Nada & Co. I'd never been before even after I've been to Royal Oak several of times. As soon as I walked up to the door I knew I was going to be in love, & the hubby was going to be parking it on a vintage  chair holding my duffel bag of a purse { Ha Ha}. The shop was bright & filled with all kinds of rustic,vintage , french country, & farmhouse inspired goods! After I looked around for a quick second, I turned & there they were.. a whole wall shining down at me of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!!! I've been on a mission for the last two months searching for some infamous Annie Sloan, & let me tell you it's not the easiest task. She only retails to smaller boutique like stores & her paint isn't offered at chain stores. I actually find this quite charming,it keeps with the appeal of the paint, even if you have to drive a little farther. If you don't know about Annie Sloan I can give you bits of information as to why it's so appealing to a Home Blogger as myself. Not only is chalk paint nifty to look at ,it's a fast drying paint { 20 minutes} & it virtually  can be used on any surface without priming,stripping,sanding etc.. The touch of the paint is also appealing. I thought it would have a gritty almost "Chalkboard" feeling ,but not at all!  The paint it's self is a bit pricey & you do need to buy the 'Wax' to finish it off with to secure the paint,but the appeal is overwhelming. The three cans I bought today were quart cans, & were stated to be able to cover as much as a gallon almost. I've never used this brand  before & to be frank I'm quite stoked! I've used Chalkboard paint & other 'new' to the market paints...,but nothing with this many pros-I mean drying in 20 minutes?!--- AMAZINGGG! I'll be posting obvious { Before & Afters} of the project I'm currently  working on,but for now here are some  pictures I captured on our little adventure today! 

 

Nada & Co. was nice enough to let me snap some pictures ..How cute is this store?- not to mention the adorable Annie Sloan section.

* Click  above pictures for larger view*

 

The colors & wax we picked up today. Graphite & Old Ochre! These quartz retail for  $ 40 a can & the Wax was I believe $25. They're a bit steep in price as stated above, but are also said to go a long way...we shall see.

This is the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint splotch book. It's around $3! I picked one up for easy guides to colors, & if I'm asked what color I've painted certain pieces I'm able to explain & refer to the splotch book easily.

{ Be sure to check out Nada & Co. ---> www.nadaandcompany.com }

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Side Note: Happy two years in our new house, I think it's time for our third place & new adventure soon ;) . 

This is just a random on our little adventure today! How amazing is this craftsmen style home? We pulled down the quaintest little street today..

 

Yes, Please!!

Paige.Rose

{ Back Patio Renovation}

Hey, it's definitely Spring now folks { Gasp} about time!! With that said our back patio underwent a mini renovation  last weekend & the first weekend it was reasonably warm for that matter! As you may, or may not know last summer we extended our cement patio about 3 feet around ,and painted the cement a taupe heat resistant color. This year we were determined to put a cute little gazebo up, and that's what we did! We purchased the 10x10 gazebo for a whopping $130 from Aldi grocery stores. These go from anywhere $200-1000 so you could say this was a STEAL! It's the same gazebo Home Depot advertises ,but ours came with corner shelving..bonus right?!  My husband & a buddy popped it up & I got to work decorating & making it our own & less stock like.

 {Beverage Cart DIY}

Step 1.) Dissembling & wipe down!

 

Step 2.) Picking a finish & sand {Optional}

* This top was unfinished so I made the decision not to sand, although I pry could have gave it a buff.

 

Wipe the board down again to ensure all particles are free from the board & begin staining with proper staining cloths/clothes { Home Depot $5} ,& go with the natural grain of the wood. Make sure to wipe access stain off!

Note: I used an Espresso Stain!

  

Step 3.) 

Start Painting! I used some left over 'Sand Tan ' paint I had from our basement. It's a semi- gloss, although I was set on a sand chalk paint color, this worked fine.

  

**View below for the complete finished look**

Our finished patio/gazebo area turned out quite well & was quite an easy project { surprise } ,although my husband may have a different opinion { Ha Ha}. It's perfect for shielding the amount of sun we get in our backyard & also for evening & seasonal entertaining, secured & away from those pesky insects!!

* The Beverage Cart was a garbage find,the two black Lanterns were purchased at Big Lots last Fall $40, & the Topiary Tree & Candle were purchased @ Big lots as well $8 & $3 ! 

 

I definitely utilized the corner shelving. My husband found this rustic bottle opener/tap holder ,& what better use then to have it in the corner under the beverage cooler, cold drinks anyone?  The green beverage cooler is from Walmart purchased a long time ago ,I believe it was $10! 

 

 

The serving tray is vintage. The flowers & rustic pot are both from Dollar Tree. The candles were purchased at Big Lots $8, as well as the draped table cloth $5. The patio furniture & rug were purchased a while ago. The 'M' was purchased @ Michael's for $1!

 

Quaint & Simple,perfect for cool nights by the fire-pit!

  

The top is lined in round clear LED lights, that are on a timer. The lantern is wood & holds a vanilla candle also from Big Lots $13!

Note: Since this picture & 'staging' I have lowered the Lantern, per request of my dearest mum ;).

Hope you all have enjoyed this bright & useful  seasonal space. I 'm going to try & grab some pictures on a clear night of the space lit up..so stick around :)!

Paige.Rose

{My Shopping Cart}

Hey, ladies & of course gents! Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend!!

 I thought I'd share where I tend to shop for Home Decor,Home Improvements, or any other items for the home. I get asked a lot "Where did you get that"? Well, truth is I shop ALL over. I'm not one to stick with one place or brand per-say. When I get a notion in my head ,or I'm looking for something specific for projects, I search all different areas including local,online,chains, independent,thrift & so on. Prime example of how I search for a specific item, my last post I stated I was looking for a  { Bread Box} well easier said than done! Bread boxes aren't necessarily a 'hot' item these days therefor it's been a challenge. I've tried a few quick places like +Target , and no luck. I'm now onto some online stores that specialize in unique or vintage goods. It really all depends on what type of style of goods you're looking for. Most of the time I'm not into trendy goods..so I may look at five places before I jump on something. I like a deal just as much as the next,but sometimes to achieve a 'look' you've got to spend a bit more or look a bit harder.  I'll post the links below of some of my favorite places to look & shop. Enjoy!

• Target - http://www.target.com/
• Pottery Barn - http://www.potterybarn.com/
• Iron Accents - http://www.ironaccents.com/homeaccents.html
• jcpenney - http://www.jcpenney.com/
• Michaels - http://www.michaels.com/
• HomeGoods - http://www.homegoods.com/
• Marshalls - http://www.marshallsonline.com/
• One Kings Lane - https://www.onekingslane.com/
• Hobby Lobby - http://www.hobbylobby.com/home.cfm
• Tuesday Morning -http://www.tuesdaymorning.com/
• Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/
• Garden Ridge - http://www2.gardenridge.com/
• Town Peddler - http://www.townpeddler.com/
• Cracker Barrel - http://www.crackerbarrel.com/
• Salvation Army 
• Urban Outfitters {Home} - http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?id=APARTMENT
• Home Depot - http://www.homedepot.com/
• Delmar Fans - http://www.delmarfans.com/
• Menards - http://www.menards.com/main/home.html  
• Layla Grace -  http://www.laylagrayce.com/ 
• Pier 1 Imports - http://www.pier1.com/
• Bed Bath & Beyond - http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/

Note: Some of the places on this list, are better physically visited ,rather than online shopping. I'll highlight the sites that are better viewed in person .

As you can see my list is ALL over the spectrum! Some of these may sound weird or not flattering in the case of home decorating, such as Cracker Barrel  ! This is actually NOT true. Cracker Barrel has some great items & most are very limited or one of a kind. I actually purchased a hand dipped cinnabon candle & wanted to purchase a three piece vintage chic canister set ( Sold Out) ..I know I was bummed. So it's random places like this I look for my home goods. I also do love places like Target as well for easy access or basic items. Home Improvement shops such as Home Depot are great for larger items like rugs & lighting. For vintage items or items that you want to be unique or on the cheap for DIY , places like Salvation Army are great! These are just some of the places I like to frequent. If you have any places you shop for decor PLEASE SHARE I'm always looking for new inspiration :).

Paige.Rose