Going to Market (Painted Furniture For the Show)

Yes we finally get to take some of our great finds to market, The Paris Street Market, that is. We are thrilled to have been chosen to have a booth there on the first Saturday in August. I am working on some great fun things, so I'll give you a little peek!!!


These stools are hardwood, not very old yet really quite heavy and stable, but boring, so here is the before.........      

They got a new vibe with red paint and just for fun..........I added the numbers, so here is the after..............

This enamel top kitchen table is from the 1930's-40's. I had given it a coat of khaki earlier and it was OK, but WOW after having a coat of the same red! It makes a great set with the barstools.

 

 

I also had two twin vintage headboards. I forgot to take a before picture but they are just too cute in red!  I think they would be terrific in a kid's room. 

And remember, I still LOVE my White Shabby Chic stuff, so there will be several pieces painted white. Here is a twin headboard that I started with...

                                        

Love the distressed white paint on the headboard now. And to compliment the look, a few other white pieces, a shelf, and a coat hanger.

This chair and table got the White Shabby Chic distressing as well.  But, sorry, they are already SOLD. You just get to look at them so you can have a little "décor envy."

As the weather continues to improve, I'll be finding more pieces to share with you before we take them to Market! 

In fact, we are heading to Karli's soon and we'll be working on some pieces there too.


Later, Kandy

Hotel Sax Chicago: Design Inspirations

This week I traveled to Chicago for a recipe photoshoot with work. I decided to stay at a different hotel in River North. I found Hotel Sax online and was impressed with the location, rate and reviews. So off I went.

It is located right next to House of Blues off State Street and Kinzie within walking distance to lots of great Chicago steakhouses like Harry Carey's as well as some hip new resaurants like RMP and Sable Kitchen + Bar. (I ate at the last two. Did not disappoint!)

The reception area was the first unique element I noticed. The antique glass display cases were filled with cut crystal glassware. It was not the normal sterile greeting!

 

The halls on the way to my room featured graphic pewter carpet, metallic tone-on-tone wallpaper and dark wood trim. A sort of rock 'n roll vibe...

Loving the patterns, metallics and darker tones.

And so the wallpaper continues...

In my room I was greeted with a variety of textures, patterns and tones. A snake skin chair, an embossed leather headboard, plush black and white carpet, crisp white linens and wood grain furniture. (All of this with a lack of "artwork." I love how this design lets the colors and textures be the focal points instead of a large picture over the bed, for instance.)

LOVE that wallpaper. Very subtle but gives some interest to the wall.

An up-close of the wallpaper in the bedroom



This cool sidetable has a glass top with purple marbles inside. I also love the mirror behind the side lamp. Again, it doubles the amount of light and makes the space feel big.


In the bathroom, the lime green grasscloth wallpaper really set off the black and white tile and fixtures. 

Modern with a nod to retro



I love that this wallpaper makes you want to touch it!

After using the bedroom and bathroom for a few days I think there are a few things I want to tuck away in my own "inspirations" for our future master bathroom remodel and a couple updates in our master...

Larger white subway tiles.

Again, a modern bit of retro.

Black and white floors (I love these but I think I might get tired of them in real life)

So much fun

These were actaully small tiles laid in a square 4x4 pattern

I love their tasteful use of mirrors (because we all know there is a fine line between 70's creepy floor-to-ceiling mirrors and framed modern mirror features)...

This is opposite the large windows so it bounces light around and makes the room feel much bigger than it is.

Our master bedroom is big enough to have a small seating area. I love the idea of one soft chair and lamp.

Notice that this lamp base is painted a dark purple.

So if you can't already tell, I'd recommend this place if you're headed to Chicago and you like a posh, modern, rock 'n roll style.

Feeling inspired,
Karli

Front Porch Bench from Headboard (Birthday Bench)

Karli actually started this project by finding an old wood headboard, just down the street from where she lives.  It was FREE.  But, before picking it up, she called me and asked whether we could use it.  The answer was, "of course, we can always make something out of it!" 

Well she decided she'd like a bench for her front porch, so Dwight and I hauled the headboard to our house and started to work.  Our plan for the bench consisted of reusing 4 spindle legs that had been Brent's, (they came off of a coffee table he longer wanted when they first got married.)  I had saved them.  Now we'll reuse them on this project and give them back.  Since Karli's birthday just happened, this bench will be the perfect gift.

Here is what we started with.....the FREE headboard and the 4 spindle legs.

                                     
We purchased 1 x 4 pine boards to build the framework and top of the bench seat.  We cut the boards to fit within the dimensions of the 54" headboard and also cut small corner pieces (with 45 degree angles on the ends) to join the frame to the legs.

You can see the angle pieces we cut. A bolt joins the framework to the legs.

The framework with all 4 legs attached.

The headboard then gets attached to the frame and braced.

         

Front view with headboard on.

                                  
We did not want screws showing on the top side of the seat where we attached the boards.  So, we cut square stock, attached them to the framework, then screwed the boards on from underneath.

This shows the underneath side.

Karli wants to add pillows.  Arms were needed on this bench to hold those pillows.  So, we had to get creative.  I drew out 4 different arm ideas.  Finally decided on this one...I cut them out.  Then when Dwight set them on for a trial run, he put them upside down!   We both decided that we liked them that way best.  (Go figure!!!)

Here is the arm creation...upside down.

The bench is ready for primer and paint.

I used Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch, Ultra Cover in Semi Gloss.  I really prefer spray painting, it goes so quickly and the bench will sit outside and I wanted it to be durable.

We nicknamed her BB (Birthday Bench)

Karli hasn't seen it yet since it is still at our place.

Happy Birthday Karli........with love from Mom and Dad.  We'll deliver it soon.  Until then, these pictures will have to do!

Kandy

Not Your Average Fabric Headboard

When it came time to furnish our guest room, I knew I wanted something different and unique. As far as I'm concerned, the guest room is a great place to be a little bit bold while creating a comfortable environment for overnight visitors.

In our old house I had a headboard that resembled an old metal gate. (Very clever, but it banged the wall--not conducive to a good night's sleep.)

In the new house I was starting with a blank slate (you can see it all here). Here's the previous owner's version... 


Oh boy, this takes me back. Look at those curtains.

Mom was visiting one weekend and we decided to go visit the brand new IKEA and there I found my jumping off point in the fabric department. (If you haven't already heard me say this, I'll say it again. If you're starting with a blank slate, I find it helpful to search for just ONE thing that you absolutely love. Then just design the rest of the room around that.) 

Two yards of fabric later (and some hemming that Mom did for me) along with a previously used wood curtain rod and some screws and nails...we had this:

I love how bold and graphic this "piece" is in the room. It is the focal point and provided the inspriation for the other furniture and fabric choices in the room. I think the fact that we hung it very near the ceiling gives the room height.


Here you can see that we simply used a wood curtain rod.



In this pic, I wanted you to see that we ran the "headboard" about half way down the mattress. We also tacked it to the wall with small nails. I didn't want the fabric to get caught up in a pillow toss in the middle of the night. It stays put, just
as we hoped.

 So my next "to-do" for this room is paint. I'm yearning for something warm and slightly colorful. I'm thinking of a burnt orange accent wall. Maybe it would be too much?? 

Stay tuned next week to learn about how we customized the curtains in this room. I'll give you a hint with this picture.


What does this pic have to do with curtains? Check back next week and I'll show you.

~Karli

French Country Bedroom

When Karli left home I boxed up all of her memorabilia and quickly turned her room into a vision of Black and White French Country. It is a little bit on the "girly" side but it is after all the guest bedroom now. Karli and her husband are welcome to come and stay  anytime they want. 

I think this room shows what can be done with a fairly small budget, several do-it-yourself projects, and some great finds. I do really love to paint furniture black. I started out by painting the oak headboard (probably a sin, but it works). It had been in the room since Karli was in Jr. High. I then found the tall dresser, vanity, and one table at garage sales. One little side table had been Karli's Grandmother's. I repaired as needed, sanded, and gave them all the same paint treatment....two coats of Krylon Flat Black spray paint, followed by 2 coats of Minwax Spray Polyurathane in Semi-Gloss.

The room began with the Black and White Toile Bedding purchased from Target. I made the checked pillow.

                                      
This wonderful old table was a garage sale find. The fabric covered bulletin board and lamp were found at Hobby Lobby. The small picture is of Karli's Grandmother (my mother) Doris Lee as a child and the clock and door knob collection are vintage. 

                                

This small old table came from Karli's Grandmother. The purse, gloves and hat are all vintage but the black hanging and two Eiffel Towers are Ross finds.

                               

The vanity is vintage as are the old make-up jars, tray, and black hand mirror. The large mirror on the wall came from Karli's Grandmother Lois.

                            
An assortment of old frames, an old Victorian picture and small reproduction dress forms from Hobby Lobby adorn the wall beside the dresser.

                               
The tall dresser is decorated with assorted "girly" stuff and a favorite of mine, a suitcase.
The vintage dress form also holds a special place in my heart!

                                        
My decorating projects never end...still on the list for the French Country room is to paint the window trim and doors white. Then I have matching Black and White Toile drapes I am going to remake to fit the windows. I'd also "love" to find an old crystal chandelier to hang in the center of the ceiling. Ooo La La!

~Kandy