Chairs - To Paint or Not to Paint?

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I had my first Thirty-One party on Friday nigh,t and then had a lazy day on Saturday. I had plans to do a few projects around the house, but I did nothing!

Before we get to the "To Paint or Not To Paint" part of this post, I need to show you what I have done so far.

This is the little sitting nook in our living room. The side of the living room that I did not show you last week when I gave you the living room update.

Current Setup

These chairs were a Craigslist find that I reupholstered, and the table was found by the curb at my neighbor's house. It just needed a little bit of sanding to remove the crackle finish and a can of Heirloom White spray paint.

Table Before

Chairs Before

Both were nice upgrades, but I'm still not sure that it is just right. 

Here is another look at the other side of the room.

There is very large black antique piano that sits next to the chairs. Part of me likes that the rattan is a different tone from everything else in the room, but part of me feels like it is throwing everything WAY off. I really like the chairs. I like the scale. They are comfortable. The price was just right at $40 for the PAIR, plus $20 for the shower curtain from Target that I used to reupholster the seats. My dilemma, To Paint or Not to Paint?

If I paint, they can never be natural rattan again. If I paint, what color do I paint them? My first thought is white, but I like a nice glossy pure white. If I paint the chairs white, what do I do about the heirloom white (more of an off white) table? I already plan to paint the media cabinet white at some point. HELP ME PLEASE! I am certain that if this was someone else's home I would be able to look at it and say,"you need do blah, blah, blah", but I am stuck. Is it the fabric?

Please keep in mind that I prefer a more modern look, and am trying to work with the pieces that I have. 

Here are a few painted chairs that have the nice modern look I would like to achieve. 

Via Young House Love

I REALLY like this green, but I'm not sure it if would be too much.

Via Bower Power

This one is not a chair, but the finish of the plant stand was the same in the before as my chairs.

Via Ana Antunes Home-Styling

Via Ten June

If you pin the photos that are not mine, please go to original website and pin from their site. Thank you!

Linking up to these Blog Parties

A Bowl Full of Lemons - The Bliss Diaries - Positely Splendid - Delightful Order - It's Overflowing - The Shabby Nest

Thrifted Lamps - Before and After

I have had these lamps for a few years, but when taking pics of my living room for some upcoming posts, I realized that I have never shown a true before and after of these.

These are still one of my all time fav thrift store finds. You can read the story of the lady that followed me around the rescue mission the I found these here if you would like.

These lamps started out like this. Yellow with hand painted flowers. I really liked the shape and the $1 each price tag. I brought them home, cleaned them up, taped up the brass, added a few coats of primer and then a few coats of white glossy spray paint. They sat with ugly shades for several months, and then I finally got these linen ish shades from Wal-Mart for around $15 each.

You seriously can not beat  a set of two lamps for under $40.

What is your fav thrift store find?

Linking up to these Blog Parties

A Bowl Full of Lemons - Tatertots and Jello - Positely Splendid - Delightful Order - It's Overflowing - The Shabby Nest

The Playroom Art

Last week I showed you a peek into our playroom. It's a fun room, still slightly beige, but progress is being made. I knew when it came to the art for the walls we needed some color. I also wanted to work with the pile of frames/canvases that I had on hand that weren't being used. Nothing "went" together, but I new that with a little spray paint and creativity it would all come together.

The first thing I did was take 2 canvases, I don't remember what was on them originally, painted over them with some craft paint and added some vinyl numbers (cut by a friend).

This beauty was my next victim.  The art was all wrong, but the frame was nice and large. A little spray paint on the frame AND mat, and I had a great frame to put some paint chips in for a nice dose of color.

More frames that were originally black or brown received a new life in the form of white spray paint. I also painted the mats for more color. The one on the top left is proudly displaying more colorful paint chips. The train photo is one that we picked up a few months back at a train show we took the boys to. The PLAY was typed into word and printed out. Easy enough. The cute little raccoon is from modtots. I won it a year ago in a giveaway that Decor Chick hosted. He is super cute.

The elephant hand print was inspired by this pin, originally from here. I wanted to included something that was made by each of my boys, so Henry did the hand print. The frame was originally black and I painted it with spray paint and then craft paint. The other picture is a piece of Cade's art. He dictated and a story to me (before he could read or write) to type out and he drew a picture to go with it. It has been a fav ever since. The frame and mat were of course panted by me.

You really can take a bunch of mismatched nothings and create something quite cute. It just takes a some time and patience.

Ok, now, what color would YOU paint the playroom? I'm all ears.



Linking up to these Blog Parties

A Bowl Full of Lemons - Tatertots and Jello - Positely Splendid - Delightful Order - It's Overflowing - The Shabby Nest

project chalkboard

image via Krylon

This is my chalkboard paint of choice. (It's the only one I have tried)

I can't find a pic of the wall in my kitchen that is next to the fridge, but just picture a wall that had random large screws and wires hanging out of it. My solution, cover the mess with a chalkboard. Two days after we moved in I placed a smaller chalkboard on this wall, but had been on the look out for one that was longer/larger to fill out the space better.

before

This piece of art was leftover from a friend's garage sale, so I asked if I could have it. I was pretty sure that the size would be just right.

I took off the backing and removed the artwork and glass so that I could paint directly onto the front of the glass following the directions on the can of paint. I went back and forth trying to decide if I should paint the frame, but couldn't decide. I kind of like the gold, so for now it stays gold. I can always go back and paint it later if I choose to.

after

And now we have a chalkboard that fits the space.  Cade  memorizes a new Bible verse every week, so this has been a great place to right it out so that we can all see it.

Have you painted any chalkboards lately? Do you like the gold frame or would you have painted it a different color?

*I haven not been compensated in anyway from Krylon for this post. All opinions are my own.

The Down Stairs Bathroom Reveal

We have almost finished another bathroom. This one was actually done before the last one that I showed you, but I was trying to wait until we framed out the mirror to show it off.

The mirror still isn't framed, but we will eventually get around to it. My sister is getting married in our backyard in Sept. so we have shifted our focus to the yard for now.

Here is the before. (before we moved in) I thought I had a better before and opted not take any right before I started ripping wallpaper. My bad. Take special note of the paper cup dispenser mounted on the side of the cabinet. Really?

I did take an up close and personal before pic of the cabinet before it was painted.

after

We went back and forth a good bit about how far we were going to take this redo. I REALLY like the old floor tile that is in here, but we talked about taking it up and putting in the same floor tile that is in the rest of the house. That could have potentially led to having to replace the vanity, issues with the toilet, and it could have left the front of the tub a mess. If we decide to purchase this house after our lease is up we would want to do a complete reno, so we decided to just keep it simple and not create more work than necessary.

The first thing I did was remove all of the wallpaper and touch up the walls. (Very messy job)
Then I primed the walls and painted them. The color is Smoked Oyster by Valspar (color matched to Olympic's Fast Hide paint in semi-gloss, left over from the kitchen)

We took out the tile baseboard in this half of the bathroom an replaced it with a 4" painted wood baseboard. It gave the room a more updated look and left it looking a lot less green. We left the tile baseboard in the room with the toilet and shower because there wasn't a good way to finish it off next to the shower.

The light fixture was replaced with a new one. I went to Lowes with the intent to purchase a new ORB (Oil Rubbed Bronze) light fixture somewhere in the $25-$30 range, but spotted this one in brass on clearance for $12. I liked the shape and price better so I just spray painted it with ORB spray paint.

Here is my ORB spray painting tip. I like the finish of the Rustoleum  Brand ORB paint the best, but it is usually in the $6-$8 price range per can. The Krylon brand (my fav brand for all other colors) ORB finish is a little darker and just not quite the right color, but it is usually in the $3-$4 price range per can. I spray the piece (after priming) in the Krylon brand (2-3 light even coats) and then I mist 1 very light coat of the Rustoleum brand and end up with the correct color. I have done several light fixtures and cabinet knobs/hinges in the last few months, so this has saved me a good chunk of $ by using less of the Rustoleum brand.

The slightly neon green formica countertop was tiled over with leftover tile that had been sitting in my dad's warehouse. Yea, for free tile. The sink and faucet were also freebies that were taken out of a bathroom that was remodeled. They were newer and much better looking than what was there, so I was happy with not having to purchase new ones.

The rug and hand towel are from Target.

I really liked the shape of the old cabinet door pulls, so I just primed and spray painted them ORB, and then sealed them. I did the same thing with the hinges. If they end up not holding up well I just replace them. This is the guest bath, so they don't get used all that much.

We did purchase and install a new towel ring and toilet paper holder. Even I didn't attempt to spray paint and reuse those items.

We are working our way through the house with new ORB doors knobs, but haven't gotten to this room yet. Once we mark those items plus framing out the mirror (in a dark espresso frame) off of our list we can call this room DONE.



 There is a Thirty-one Gifts Catalog Party- Bring Journey Home Event going on now through July 24th at 8 p.m..

If you would like to purchase something to help bring Journey home you can shop using this link. 

This is where I introduced you to Journey. You can find her mother's blog here. If you would rather give directly to her adoption fund you can visit her mother's blog and donate through paypal.

Linked to:
Just a Girl - Show and Share Day
Tatertots and Jello - Weekend Wrap Up Party