Project File: Dining Room Buffet Facelift

The HORRENDOUS before....

and the much better after...

I had planned on the potential of painting the whole thing the same dark glossy teal of our front door- but after applying it to the top- I decided to go with the white: reason being- The teal looked dreadful against the gray walls- so much so that I couldn't handle it- especially since I was in a major state of decorator mania- doing 5,000 projects knowing that I'd be starting classes Monday and would have very little time for anything beyond research, psychology, and multi cultural counseling for the next 6 weeks. Specifically repainting the whole dinning room!

After having all of the classes in the past 2 days- I am correct in my assumption. I will not be doing anything but school work (and regular work) for the next 6 weeks- this will most likely be my last post until then:(

So- for the buffet- I removed all the doors- sanded the doors and base joints, filled all holes, re-sanded, then applied 3 coats of semi-gloss white paint (it's my trim paint that I use for the whole house I have a 5 gallon bucket in my basement)

Then I drilled new holes and installed all of the new hardware....I was going for the campaign chest look- I think that larger hardware would have been better- possibly the width of the trim? but this works fine for now!)

BIG improvement in my humble opinion! OH- and best part of tackling big projects- it forces you to clean out other areas- i.e. INSIDE of the buffet...now clean as a whistle!!

And you may have noticed I moved furniture around again- I put the (to-be-reupholstered) gold Brimfield couch in the living room instead.

We also got a temporary sofa from my parents and moved our older/more grubby current living room couch into the basement play room- and turned it into a more family friendly area:

Which then forced me to reevaluate my sewing table/fabric stash- and hence clean/organize that area: (because, of course I had to make new pillows for the couches:)

and I finally got around to covering an old cork board I inherited- I just wrapped it in a fabric scrap- staple gunned it on the back- and pushed in a border of brass upholstery tacks I picked up at the hardware store- SUCH a simple project! literally 30 mins max!!

and in the midst of this compulsive frenzy of projects/decorating- My oldest Angelbaby graduated from pre-school. INSANE! and so much harder for me then I thought it would be (which probably contributed to the compulsive frenzy:)

LOVE

Project File: Bamboo Bench

I started this project waaayyy back in the summer....and it's really somewhat sad that it's taken me this long to finally finish it! That being said...I am glad that it's done, love how it turned out- and it's pretty comfy to boot!

Here's what I started with:
It was a $30 antique store steal that my mom and I found while on our beach vacation (read more about it the initial process here)

I started with a coat of spray primer

Then 2 coats of peacock blue spray paint

Then I bought this insanely amazing fabric , Oceania in Aqua, Lewis and Sheron Textiles

I have been drooling over it since I first layed eyes on it- because the above pic from the website was simply a closeup of the octopus- I figured it was a bunch of peacock blue octopi(s?), but was pleasantly surprised to see all the other fun creatures when the fabric arrived!

So- after the initial spraying, the project sat in the garage for MONTHS.
Then, last week, after paper writing, and working all weekend- I felt a need for creative expression. I had D cut a piece of plywood we had in the basement while I was at work.
Then I rummaged around and recycled some carpet foam and a piece of a mattress pad I had left over from another project- and went to town!

The electric knife I borrowed from my parents was a dream at the cutting foam- highly recommended!!

Then I folded the fabric over the foams, pulled taught, and stapled all the way around.

The corners we a little tricky. I trimmed them...

Then folded them over and stapled into place

TA DA!!!

I had a little helper boy!

and here's the finished piece in front of the Christmas tree:)

Oh- and we put 4 L-brackets on the bottom to attach the seat to the bench!

Another look at the lamp I mentioned in my previous post. It's from West Elm- here's the link.

I was conflicted about which lamp to get- (I had it narrowed down to my top 2 choices). I went with the lamp below for a couple reasons:

#1-interesting

#2-cheaper than the other one

#3- more casual/modern vibe for the room

Too Many Balls in the Air

and I'm seriously about to drop one!!!!

and clearly, the one that's already been dropped is this blog- and to the (numerous- JK;) faithful blog-readers- I apologize that this little blog is at the bottom of my priority list. As my little life has become almost unmanageably hectic over the past month- I keep thinking of ways that I can make it easier on my little brain (and heart)...this blog had come up in my mind as something I may have to eliminate. Instead of making a rash decision,  I decided to give it some time- I thought I owed you all and explanation- but I decided to wait it out- and lately I've been thinking about things that I want to post and want to share- and that feeling has made me decide that rather than eliminating the blog altogether- I am just going to post when I have something worth posting- and when I have the time- I refuse to stress about this (TRUST me- I am too busy stressing about everything else:)

SO- if you like reading my blog (thank you), and if you want to know when I post which will be fewer and farther between for the next year or so:)- you should click on the little subscribe icon on the left hand margin of my main page- and you will get an email notification every time I decide that I have something worth posting...please bare with me?!

Here is a list-form explanation for my craziness of late- in a somewhat, but not really prioritized list:

1.  Mom, wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, friend
2.  Expressive therapist going on 3.5 years (weekends)
3. Graduate student- after a 4 year hiatus and 2 darling children
4. Artist (SO SAD that this is this far down on the list, right- ugggg, it's kind of  a painful reality to face
5. Community mentor
6. Money earner/ reading tutor at my old school 2 days a week
7.  Volunteer cooperative parent at Z's school
8. Creative decorator?painter person
9. Blogger

So that explains it!

Part 2 of this Blog entry is titled:
Bamboo, Brimfield and Booty-Boo (that's Z-Booty)

I found this ridiculously fabulous (and cheap) bench/table while antiquing with Shuggie while at the beach this summer- I didn't want to share it with you all until I actually got a chance to start it- (this past weekend)

First, I sanded it lightly by hand- then I sprayed it with spray-primer, and 1 coat (thus far) of peacock blue satin spray paint.  It needs another coat still, and my plan is to cut a piece of plywood the size of the top rectangular opening, upholster it with the fabulous fabric below, and attach it to the base.

I know it's slightly crazy- but it will look so cool in front of our fire place in the living room!! EEEK! I will do a project file post with the whole process once it's complete!

Onto Brimfield.

Brimfield- how I love thee...

we went yesterday

it was magic

Here are a few of the MANY finds- it was a jackpot kinda day- more to come in the next few posts about my other finds:)

I thought this chubby little guy was super cute- I sprayed him high gloss yellow- he's grazing in the living room right now, lucky guy.

I got this retro truck for the little guy- he's really into the dumping function (it would be in bed with him right now if we let him)- and when it says "hydraulic"- they mean it- it is hard core- I keep telling him "don't get to close when you lift the lever" I'm seriously concerned that I might break his jaw if it hits him...they don't make em' like they used to!

and for my little dancing queen I got this little fishy necklace...

Perfect for her first day of school- she was SO excited!!! She was singing me a "first day of school tune" in the picture below:)

I love these two little Angels.

and even though my life has become quite nutty- they are my top priority, and what I am doing is the best I can do- and that's all that I can do.

Project File: Dining Room Table

My dining room table has been in our garage for at least 3 weeks. During that time it has underwent various processes in an attempt to create a certain "look" that I happened to see in a recent design magazine.

I first sanded the table down- this table was bought at an unfinished furniture by my newlywed parents 30 years ago.  They finished it with a dark stain and poly.
The sanding took a lot of elbow grease to remove the color- but I did it! (I used a hand sander,  goggles and a respirator for this!)

Above is a not-so-hot-before-shot:)

Then I began the re-coloring process.  I was attempting to bleach the table- which gives the wood a worn, grayish tone.

I first tried regular laundry bleach- it didn't do much.
then I moved on to oxcalic acid- or furniture bleach (used to lighten stains on furniture)- also- not much of  a difference.

The final bleaching option is a 2-part bleaching solution that I could have ordered from a flooring supply company- but honestly I didn't want to pay the $40 haz-mat shipping fee- especially if it wasn't guaranteed to work.  So then I started looking into the "limeing" process- a certain type of wax applied to furniture to give it a whitish look- this I also couldn't find...

so here's what I ended up going with:

I simply brushed it on in smallish sections, then wiped it off with a rag while it was still wet

this is a stain product that "pickles" the furniture.  You can see the difference in the color in the shot above. It actually was super simple and quick and I love the result!

What's left to do? I need apply a water proof finish- this is the product I decided on. 

Daddy Van's natural furniture polish,

 I got mine through Amazon- I'll let ya'll know how it works!!

I chose it because I wanted a natural product, natural finish, and not super-shiny.  It should arrive tomorrow!

Then it's the rest of the room I have to decide on.
specifically:
#1: a new rug (or antique rug.... possibly I will find you at Brimfield in a couple weeks????)
Here are some current contenders:

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Clearly I'm leaning toward yellow- but other than that I am not quite sure

#2: fabric choice and re-upholstery of my beautiful couch (a good fall/winter project I think)
top choices right now:

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#3: wall color
#4: what to do with the hideous, half-assed built-in buffet???
#5: dining chairs (possible Brimfield too?)
#6: window treatments

Stay tuned!!!