Kitchen Sneak Peak
The kitchen is almost done! I’m exhausted, but it was totally worth it. Here is a little sneak peak for you until I am ready for the final reveal:
If you like these little snap shots then stay tuned for the rest…
Bit Of Chair Love
I happened upon this super cute chair on the blog Purple Area. It would make an adorable desk or side chair. I just love the black color and the curved back.
I even like the purple wall here. This would be adorable in a little girl’s room… or even a grown up girl’s room!
A New Headboard
I think this was Tony’s favorite project yet! My mom had an old brass headboard for a king size bed. She was going to throw it out, so I snatched it right up. After a coat of primer and a couple coats of black paint…
He was so excited last night after we got it hung that he said the bedroom looks like a hotel now. I take that as a compliment! I was afraid that the black would be too much next to the black art above, but I think it worked out well. Always a work in progress…
I think the pups approve too!
Typewriter Table Detailed
Sorry, I forgot to upload new pictures yesterday. But, today you get to see a lot of progress from the weekend! Here is the typewriter table that I showed you before. It is now finished and detailed!
Once I finished the second coat of white spray paint I arranged cardboard scrap-booking stencils in the placement I liked. I traced and filled the stencils with a paint pen. These little guys work great! I have used it on a couple of projects now and it always does the trick. I think it is super cute and ready to be used!
Shabby Chair Love
I love the shabby chic look. I just do. I always have. But, Tony isn’t a huge fan, and our house has stayed away from it for the most part. However, when I saw this chair on Flickr, I just couldn’t help but love it. It isn’t just a shabby white chair, look at the large curved back! “Unique Chair,” by Jaci Berkopec:
Have a great weekend!
Antique Treasures
My grandmother just sent me a box of antique jewelry and doodads! I was so excited last night to rummage through all of the sentimental pieces. I’m not sure what I am going to do with all of it, but I have some creative ideas going. Here is a peak at the goods:
The island covered in all the treasures.
I really loved this little tray. My grandma said it was very old. I thought it might look cute in the bathroom when we get in refinished.
A gorgeous cameo and some really pretty crystals.
Another cameo and a very old pin and rings.
Two old jewelry boxes and a sweet locket.
This box was special because my uncle made all of these turqoise and jade rings and pieces. His sign is a paw print and is engraved on the back of each piece.
Exciting huh? I will let you all know what I do with some of the pieces… I can feel the creative juices flowing…
Sweet Little Details
I really believe that it’s the little details in a home that make your space special. Ok, that sounds cheesy. But, it is true. We have made some major repairs, spend lots of money, and in the end it’s the little projects worth a few bucks that make me so proud of our home. I have been excited for days about the new towel bar we hung in the bathroom. This is not only a convenience, but looks so much better than having the towel laying on the sink all the time- and, it only cost me about $3!
So, last night while finishing up the living room curtains we also hung up some coffee mugs in the kitchen. I bought a few new red mugs at Wal Mart for $2 apiece. I got a few cup hooks, and viola! Instant face-lift for the kitchen space. I love my bird of paradise mugs, but these look much more updated and will go great once we finishing the painting of the cabinets. Tony actually hung a separate board under the cabinet so that the screws for the hooks wouldn’t go all the way through. He also had to slightly open up the cup hooks, as the mug handles were a bit wider than standard ones. All in all I think they look great and will be awesome in the new kitchen too!
I know I said that I would be starting to work on the cabinet painting last week, but I got a bit lazy. I really am going to work on it this week, so check back for updates and tips on the cabinet painting!
More Curtains!
Last night we finished hanging curtains in the living room. I am so excited to not have these flowery old lady curtains any more:
I really wish I would have remembered to take specific before shots of these. They even had poufy, paper-stuffed valences!
I’m not too sure about the new curtains we chose, so I need your opinions and suggestions. They are, no doubt, better than the before, but not exactly what we had in mind. We wanted to stay inexpensive for right now, so we got these at WalMart (no Ikea near us!). We originally picked a charcoal color, but when we got home we realized that the packages we grabbed were all black! They do need some steaming, but here they are:
I think it is a huge improvement, but it still feels a little off. Tony likes the blinds on one window (this is the previous family’s doing- not mine!) but, I think the small window should have sheers as well so the two match. What do you think?
Either way, these are much more our taste, style, and colors, and best of all- no foofy grandma curtains! 🙂
Oh, and I realize that we really need a rod that is meant to be showing, but we aren’t going to spend the money on a custom length one right now. So, the white bar has to stay and we just have to deal with it for a little while!
My Office and Easy Tips
We did do work at home over the weekend, really. But, the snow on Sunday (snow!?) hindered us from accomplishing too much. I will have a few things to show you later on in the week, but for today I am going to show you my work office.
When I started at this job one of the first I thought about was how to dress up my first personal office. I wanted to create a fun and unique work space without spending a bunch of money. Of course I was not about to go out and buy new furniture, but I do have a few simple and very cheap ideas for dressing up the drab office. Although you may not be able to produce your dream office with a space that you don’t own, you can make it a comfortable and productive space!
1. Posters. Not the priciest artwork, but good enough for a work office. I hung the Keep Calm poster as you enter my doorway (Yup, cliche maybe, but I still love it!). I also hung an inspirational quote from Muhammad Ali on the opposite wall. These were so fitting as I work in a hospital as a medical case manager. And, they give me some color, but stay in the basics I love!
2. Use your printer. I made these blah magnets cute by printing a sheet of white paper with a paisley pattern. I cut the sheets down to the size of the magnets and glued them on. I then covered them with clear plastic tape. I also used paper to fill the letter opener magnet. The other side of the desk is a sheet of paper I printed with the Chinese symbol for “happiness.” I have a few printed quotes around the office as well. These are cheap enough to switch out once in a while too!
3. Paper flowers. I wanted to add some brightness to my office, but am horrible at caring for plants. So, I made paper roses with tissue paper. I stuck them in a thrift store vase and now have flowers all year round. (the candy is a crowd pleaser as well)
4. Organization! Staying organized is the simplest, cheapest way to keep an office space looking its best. I have some open shelves that I make sure are always orderly. This is also a good time saver. I always know where things are and never have to hunt!
5. Personal but professional. A nice touch to an office space is something personal. But, remember to keep it professional. Too many pictures or tchochkes can make an office space cluttered and unprofessional. I have some pictures hung and framed in my office, but only ones that I don’t mind if clients see. I have a magic 8 ball on my desk for those real tough decisions as well ;). My desk top is also an example of keeping organized. And, the calendar is a free printable version from calendarsthatwork.com. I love these, as they look cute and are simple instead of busy! Also notice my mouse pad and pen. Little touches that were inexpensive!
Hope these simple ideas help you with your office. Mine is just like my home, always changing. Enjoy!
Chair Love Some More
This weeks chair love comes early! I spotted this beauty on Apartment Therapy earlier in the week. The picture is of the store front of the Pico Modern Furniture shop. What a pretty place! And, great taste in chairs, I might add.
The shop is described as unique and unusual. I love it already! And, I want the chair! 🙂
Make Mine Eclectic 
