{ Glass Lamp Makeover }

Welcome back guys! Today I'm sharing a little DIY that I have been meaning to blog for a few weeks now! I recently changed our living room decor up a bit with some new rustic/vintage/farmhouse pieces & thought the lamps needed a change too! Our upper living room is finally exactly how I had envisioned it , only took 3 years!! I'm a firm believe that in any home, even our next one will take some time to get that "feel' or 'look' you're trying to achieve even with knowing your style. Okay, I'm off topic but that was leading up to something ha-ha. We've had the same modern shattered glass lamps since our first place! A few months after we moved in to our condo we were engaged & put them on our registry ,and that was in 2009!!! It was definitely time for an update not only because they were a bit boring , but they really didn't do anything for our farmhouse/rustic/vintage inspired cottage living room! I thought about pitching them, but was to cheap to buy new ones! I have looked for 2 plus years for new lamps & haven't found any that I would pay for!! I decided to grab some chalk paint & well keeeep reading...

 

 

This is the only before picture I have of the base & lamp up close! The shades were originally a dark charcoal gray color, but faded with time & became dingy! The bases on both this one { the larger one } and the smaller matching one { below } were still in perfect condition.

 

I'm going to admit something here....I didn't even tape these off!! I mean why waste the time & material when they're suppose to be rustic/cottage like, right?! :)

This is the larger of the two matching lamps! I took some white chalk paint to the base  & then distressed the glass part with a wire brush! I wasn't sure how I was going to like this, but I'm in love! They look pretty nifty at night lit up with some of the light shining through the distressed parts! Using a bit of chalk paint I was able to achieve what I was looking  for in the store for over two years!! After I distressed the base I used some brown antique wax to give it that used/chipped/cottage look! 

 

This is the smaller matching lamp! The shades I used are both a cream color, but not matching { You guys know I hate matching to many things ha-ha } !  I love the neutral look with the mixed in metal! I mean for under $20 in paint & about an hr of time..can't beat it!

We've changed the living room up a bit as stated above , so I'll be doing an updated summer tour soon! I've been so tired & not feeling 100% the last few days..I will get around to it in the next week or so! I hope you guys enjoyed this little DIY!! I'm so glad I decided to keep these & spruce them up & bonus saved probably at least $50!!

Happy Friday & weekend guys!

Paige.Rose

http://www.joyinourhome.com/your-turn-to-shine-link-party-35/

{ Mason Jar Lamp Makeover }

Last weekend when we were in Lexington visiting my grams we went junking! If you know me then you'd know I like anything that is vintage,rustic,different or needs some TLC! I spotted this little mason jar lamp at one of my grams favorite little junkin shops in the town next to her { Croswell }! It's the cutest little shop & just as we were about to leave I spotted this lamp among many other treasures tucked away in a little corner. The tag said $15 & I offered $10 & got it! I know these are pretty common, but for $10 with the shade, & lighting kit  I couldn't pass it up. See what I did to this little gem below!!!

**Excuse the picture quality in this post ..sometimes when I'm working on a project or I'm in the moment photographing is an after thought ha-ha. Hey, we're keeping it real here right?! I mean, I'm a -Practical- blogger....Thanks for understanding guys!!

 

I really did like the before!! It reminded me of an eclectic farmhouse lamp, but unfortunately it didn't match for where I wanted it! I had a spare white shade, so all  left to do was DIY the mason jar bottom!!

 

There was no need to paint it perfectly as I was  going to distress it anyway ;)!!

 

I painted the whole mason jar in Americana Decor from +Michaels Stores  chalk paint in Everlasting & then sprayed the inside of the jar with some off white spray paint to take the coastal blue away! After all that was dry I went over the lettering lightly in the color Yesteryear & then went over that with a black Sharpe! After everything was dry I distressed the whole jar with a copper brush { Dollar Store } & then hit it with some dark wax  to age it a bit!! 

This was the simplest little DIY ever & I just love the cottage feel especially for summer! It's small enough & neutral enough to use in a few spots in our house which is always a bonus with anything decor related.

Have a great Sunday Funday loves!

http://www.joyinourhome.com/your-turn-to-shine-link-party-35/
Paige.Rose

{ Beachfront Home Tour }

First, happy Friday everyone!! This week skipped by with the 4 day week, right?! Memorial weekend we traveled north to my grams home in Lexington,MI for some fresh country air & gorgeous scenery!! I forgot how awesome some fresh scenery & inspiration feels!! While we were there I snapped some lovely pictures of some stunning vintage/new/beachfront homes - Yeah, I was in total 'Ahh' !! Sit back & join me for a little tour in the cutest little country beach town!

 

How light & charming is this grey & white vintage charmer?! I love the wrap around porch & the stain on the door!

 

This beauty comes with a guest house & luscious gardens too!  I told my husband we're moving  in the guest house haha!

 

I love this rustic colonial style home!! For some reasons it screams quaint & warm holidays ! I'm a huge lover of evergreens &  white fences so this one was love at first sight!! I can see it now, my husband tangled in lights trying to wrap those evergreens for Christmas  {he hates evergreens } hehe!

 

The cute little garage is to the left in front of the home on a  little black road..I mean can this be any more perfect?!

 

Honey, we're moving in was my first shout when we pulled up to this gem! It reminds me of an old barn/farmhouse that they beautifully  remodeled, yet kept the charm & appeal.

 

My hubby loved the barn/garage in the back!! It's so country & I believe there is some type of living space above the huge barn/garage! I mean  with the french windows, fence, mere steps to the beach - I'M SOLD!

 

White beauty { Yes, I named her } sits on a secluded corner lot with lots of history!! It's been a family favorite since my grandparents moved up there! The overall simple white/mint undertone is so classic & chic! I'm not exactly sure the history on it ,but it's an old generational home with a few history plaques out front { Note to Self- read next time we're visiting } !

 

This home is about 20 minutes north of my grandma! It's right on the shoreline of Lake Huron in Port Sanilac! My grams told me they just refinished it, sure is lovely!! Those views to wake up to each morning could cure anything!!!

 

The marina is to the left of this picture!

 

This is another direct beachfront home in Port Sanilac. This is my personal favorite on the tour! I just love the look & the views are indescribable!! I love that they picked according colors & finishes for the style & location!

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of some amazing homes { I wish I could have taken you guys inside}!  I think we all need these stunning homes in our lives & the views, right?! A girl can dream..:)

Have a great weekend guys!

Paige.Rose

{ Simple Sun Tea! }

Today was a warm & sunny productive Tuesday!! The heat was kicking my bum & that's when I decided to make some simple ,yet refreshing sun tea! I used to make sun tea all the time when we lived in our condo. I would set the jar out on our screened in porch & the sun would drench the jar in a matter of minutes leaving us with some delicious tea for days!! I must say I haven't made sun tea in almost 3 years , but why not today?! My grams gave me a glass mason jar dispenser so I put it to use today! For this simple recipe keep reading below...

.................................................Recipe....

. Glass jar

. 5-8 Regular Tea bags

. 3 tablespoons honey

.3 tablespoons sugar { Optional }

. 4 sprigs of mint

. Lemon { Optional }

** This is my own recipe, so you can tweak the above ingredients to your liking!  

Fill the jar with cold water { You can boil the water first too } & add the tea bags & mint! Let the jar sit in the sun until the water is tinted, this usually takes 1-2 hours! After the tea is done, add the honey, lemon & sugar! Put the jar in the fridge until cold . The tea will be a refreshing low calorie beverage that will last for days!

 

Both the lemon & mint are great for detoxing & bonus they're refreshing! You can use fresh lemon or bottled lemon { NOT from concentrate }!

 

Serve with some sugar free butter cookies or a light snack & you have a refreshing summery snack! After being outside with the puppies all day & spray painting I needed this!!

Have a lovely evening everyone!

Paige.Rose

{ Life is Beautiful - A Cottage Story & Tour! }

Let me first start off my saying this has been one of the most relaxing & memorable weekends!! The hubby & I planned this little trip about a week ago & couldn't be happier we took it! We traveled north to my grandma's cottage off of Lake Huron  in the little quaint town of Lexington, MI ! It was like the first time I was seeing everything again & it sure was eye opening! It had been 3.5 yrs since we had been up there in the summer time  & so much has changed...I can remember going up there every summer/ weekend as a child & loving the sandy shoreline & the Petoskey stone filled lake!! I remember going for walks on the beach with my grams looking for Petoskey stones & vintage colored glass that washed ashore, penny candy store & bonfires! Things sure have changed since those days..as everything in life does ! I had been putting off going up there for a while due to the emotions &  overall change the time has brought. It no longer is a warm vacation area filled with people, memories & excitement, but more of a memory of what was or used to be. As much as I love what my life has become & as thankful as I am, I miss the days of hearing my papa say " Go out to the garage & grab me a jug of water "..  { they have well water } ! I can't believe it's been 11 years since his passing.. I was reminded this weekend that I've always loved writing { old poem & paper about my papa's passing } & that blogging is where I'm suppose to be in life.
Sit back & enjoy some lovely pictures from what was a small non-livable 4 room cottage with no heat or washing machine to a gorgeous memory filled cottage/lodge inspired home built by the two best  grandparents!


 

 

I inherited a lot from my dear grams, but not her green thumb or my papa's gardening skills!! Her gardens are so gorgeous, unlike my faux ones hehe!

 

Cute, cozy & charming!

 

The raccoon carved out of a tree stump has always been the talk of conversation! As a kid this was my favorite thing about the deck!! I mean who can say their grandparents have a 6ft wood carved raccoon?!

Can you guys see why I love this space & where  my love for old vintage & rustic goods come from?! Flea market mornings will always be engraved in my memories from up there!!

 

This was the original outhouse that was converted into a workshop/potting/storage shed!

 

- Angels Shall Guard Thee -

 

My grams has an eye for junkin' & refinishing anything old !

 

The whole little original cottage is paneled in knotty pine! 

 

One of the guest rooms! I always told my grams she should have started a Bed & Breakfast!!!

My grandmas sitting room in her bedroom upstairs { Newer part } ! Her whole room is decorated in vintage shabby chic items!

As a kid I always thought junking & making the old usable again was 'lame', but now I can see the beauty in the pictures, & the charm in the old & used! My grams is one of my most favorite people on earth other then my hubby { we're so much alike }! She's one of a kind with her kindness, need to give & her eye for old & worn goods and turning them into beauties! Though I'll miss this cottage as I still call it, I can't wait for her to move downstate with us again. Growing up with her behind us until I was 9 was a blessing & I can't wait to have her back so close!! Lexington,MI will always hold a spot in my heart for more reasons then one, but new memories are around the corner as with anything in life. I hope you've enjoyed just a peek into this amazing little cottage & journey that has touched our family since 1989! Take the memories in , because time doesn't slow down!

Have a great week guys!

Paige.Rose