~Bye-Bye Green! Hello Gray! ~

I spent my rainy Wednesday painting my daughter's room. 

Have I mentioned my disdain for her apple-glow-in-the-dark-need-sunglasses-everytime-I-am-in-the-room green walls? 

Well....they are no longer. 

Sorry - sad non edited photo. I am in a hurry to put the room back together! Yes - that is the silver leaf lamp my hubby tried to throw away! Well.. its baaaaack.

Up went Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore (except, sorry Ben M. I committed paint adultery and went with a colour match Behr low VOC paint instead - which went on like butter)

I am pleased with my colour choice. It is a soothing soft feminine gray. It has blue-violet undertones that looks amazing with her black furniture and fuschia accents.

She comes home tomorrow. I will not succeed in finishing the room like I had hoped.  I have been pricing out foam for the headboard and found out I need to order some in, which will take a week. Sorry darling. Good design doesn't happen overnight, it is a process that requires time. 

 I need your help with the headboard foam: 

Should I go 2" thick or 3" thick? She wants a curved top with tufts. I was thinking I might attempt diamond tufts, so not sure what thickness to go for. Maybe someone out there might have a suggestion or two? 

  

~Kitchen Chairs Get Classy~

*Edited: August 21, I am linking up to Nester's impromptu "chair party"


As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been a busy bee this past week. After re-painting Georgia's chair with spray paint and a monogram I was eyeing something else to paint.

 Our kitchen chairs were my next victims. 

I loathe those chairs. 

We bought them a long time ago and two have already met their fate. One fell apart over the winter, you can read about it here. I still haven't bought new chairs; partly indecision, procrastination and not wanting to spend a lot. I really want some modern chairs, I think they would go wonderfully with my old antique library desk that serves as our kitchen table.

{These are the type chairs I really want}

source: Canadian House and Home

In the meantime, why not spray paint the chairs? 

Here they are before, in all their pale oak glory {along with my UGLY 90's oak kitchen that I can't spruce up because I am renting}

After 6 cans of spray paint, running to Home Depot to get more, dodging rain drops, breathing in fumes and keeping my dog away from the wet paint they are finally finished!

I think they look amazing. 

{I love our old table, it was our first furniture purchase when we got married almost 19 years ago, it was painted with layers of bright red and blue and then green, that we my husband lovingly stripped and sealed.}

My 14 year old daughter asked why hadn't I done this sooner, they look so much better.

 I have to agree. 

Linking to:

Metamorphosis Monday@BNOTP
DIY Show Off Project Parade

DIY Day@A Soft Place to Land

Power of Paint@Domestically Speaking
Hooking Up with House of Hepworths

Frugalicious Friday@Finding Fabulous

Frugal Friday@The Shabby Nest

SNS@Funky Junk

Sunday Showcase@Under The Table and Dreaming

Tools Are For Women Too!
Trash to Treasure@Reinvented

It's so very Cheri
August 21: The Nesting Place

  

~Giveaway Winner: Style At Home Magazine~

The lucky winner of the June 2010 Style at Home Issue is........

drum roll please........

{i have tried everything to embed the random number generator into this post - finally just took a photo of it - anyone have tips?}

#5 : 

 prairiewhisper said...

I'd love to recieve a magazine. Thanks for the chance.

prairiewhisper: email me you address so I can pop the magazine in the mail!

Congratulations!

My projects for the week:

I have been busy working on several projects around the house, one of which required a lot of spray paint.   I think my neighbours are starting to get annoyed with me, as I spray paint in the back yard and have been all week! Sorry neighbours :)

A little sneak peek!


 The weather turned rainy and put my spray painting on hold AND I ran out of paint and need to head to the hardware store to stock up.

Ongoing (never-ending) project: Girl's bedroom


The boxsprings for the girls' beds were picked up on Sunday. My son felt like it was Christmas as he got the girls' beds put into his room as a bunk bed. He is in heaven, now he has two beds to choose from, can sleep up high and make a fort out of the bed. 


His comment was "Mom, quick get the blog camera out, aren't you going to take pictures?" 


That is another post, for there is a whole story to tell about how we, my sweet husband spent his Sunday afternoon.


My 14 year old took some convincing that her bed was going to look great once I was done. All she saw was a mattress, boxspring and frame and was quite UNINSPIRED. What she was really itching to do was to take the bed on the street and have bed races. The 14 year old is a quite a character, with an interesting sense of humour, she is a cute quiet slender blonde that says the funniest things and loves snakes {yes - I need help incorporating a snake and its  habitat into her room decor}


This photo is the almost 16 year old's room with the green wall that makes me cringe, I did let her pick out the colour and willingly painted it, but can't wait for Stonington gray to go on the wall.

My goal this week is to source out some foam, batting and find a jigsaw to borrow, so I can finally finish the headboards. The crunch is on, the almost 16 year old is off for her week long hike and I said I would finish her room while she is gone. Darn - why do I say such things, now I need to paint her room, find an end table, hang up art work, find a new blind, spruce up her drapes and put the whole room back together in one weeks time!

**excuse the layout. I am attempting to create a 3 column blog and am trying to fix the margins - argh!

~A Giveaway: Style At Home Magazine~

I just received a second June issue of Style at Home in the mail. There must of been a mailing glitch.

 So instead of tossing it into the recycle bin I thought....

 I would give it away. 

Most of my Canadian readers can get this publication easily at the grocery store but in the US that is a different story. While I lived there I couldn't find it anywhere and paid the extra $$ for a subscription. So for my American readers (and Canadians too - why not get a free magazine?) I am giving away my extra copy of Style at Home, June 2010. 

Now you can enjoy some Canadian goodness in the comfort of your living room, or wherever you curl up to get your latest decor magazine fix.

This issue is full of exciting budget decorating ideas and features a few DIY bloggers such as Censational Girl, Three Men and a Lady and Aubrey & Lindsay (fellow Canadians)

The giveaway will close on Thursday, May 20 at 7 AM PST.

To enter:

1. Leave a comment.

2. Join my lovely group of followers for another entry, {or if you do follow} leave another comment for a second entry.

There it is: simple and sweet.

  

~Georgia's Chair~

 When my niece comes over she always requests "Georgia's chair" to sit on while eating her snack of crackers that are given to her surreptitiously by her Auntie Barbara ( shhh....don't tell my sister). The chair is a booster chair that we purchased from Ikea about 11 years ago when my son decided that he was Houdini and would slip out of his high chair to sit on a "big" chair. I stumbled across this mini chair at Ikea and for only $19.99, it made its way into our home. It was used by him as a booster chair then desk chair until recently when I realized that being almost 12, uhmm... he is a bit too big. (Hard to realize the baby is growing up) 

Last week armed with spray paint I decided to give the chair a face lift. Using a can of black semi-gloss Rustoleum paint I gave the chair the lift it needed. After seeing monogrammed pillows, dressers and chairs with numbers all over blog land and in magazines, I decided to monogram the chair with a "G". My niece, Georgia, who I think is very bright for a 2 1/2 year old,  loves to point out letters and say words associated with that letter, such as G for Georgia.

 How perfect! 

Now she has her very own chair with a G. It also helps that her sister, who is only 6 months, is named Gabriella and can use the chair when she is old enough.

Before:

After:

The how-to:

1. First you choose the desired font and enlarge it. I chose Modern No. 20 and enlarged it to 600.

2. Next you print it out.

3. Cut it out and place on chair in desired location.

4. Using a pencil outline the letter pressing down in order to leave an imprint on the chair.

5. Outline the imprint with pencil.

6. Using acrylic paints and a rounded and square tip paint brush, fill in the outline. I had to paint several coats to get the depth I wanted.

7. Seal seat with a satin varnish, a step I still need to do. My varethane dried out so I need to buy some wipe-on poly.

Now I need to have my sister over for lunch so Georgia can sit on her chair!

Linking to: 

Project Parade @ DIY Show Off

Anonymous Meeting @ Remodelaholic

Show and Share @ Just a Girl

DIY Day @ A Soft Place to Land

Transformation Thursdays @ Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

SNS @ Funky Junk 

Power of Paint @ Domestically Speaking

Frugal Friday@ The Shabby Nest

Shop the House Sunday@Finesse Your Nest

~An Afternoon Tea with Good Company~

This past weekend I had the most wonderful afternoon with good company. Victoria, a very friendly, talented designer and blogger and one of my biggest supporters organized a tea for local bloggers at a quaint cafe, The Little White House Salon Cafe in historic Fort Langley, BC. 

source: Marcus Design

Source: Design Ties

I was honoured to be included in the group that is full of amazing talent. While relishing the tiny sandwiches, savouries, desserts and petit fours we enjoyed great conversation, getting to know one another a little bit better. 

Source: The Little White House

source: The Little White House

It was delightful  to meet in person the ever talented women behind inspirational local blogs. Among the group was ( from left to right), Nancy from Marcus Design, Maria from Colour Me Happy, Victoria from Design Ties, myself, Tracy from My House of Giggles, Catherine from peace love sweater, and Karla  from Kerrisdale Design.  

Myself, Victoria, Karla and Nancy

Source: Marcus Design

Karla, myself, Catherine, Nancy and Maria

We enjoyed wandering around the The Little White House, the furniture, accessories and clothing shop owned by Cheryl Krecsy, whose home and this shop has been featured in various publications such as Style at Home and Canadian House and Home. The shop and cafe is situated inside a historical home, The Marr House. 

The shop is loaded with gorgeous furnishings, antiques, luxurious linens, one of a kind clothing, lighting and accessories. Everywhere you looked there was a feast for the eyes.

source: The Little White House

Source: Marcus Design

I love the rustic elegance of the cafe, the mix of crystal chandeliers, ornate mirrors, white furniture and the rustic barn board walls.

source: Marcus Design

 I love this chandelier, it reminds me of a cluster of grapes. I love how it casts a unique shadow on the ceiling. 

Thank-you Victoria from Design Ties for organizing the get together. We all look forward to more!

~Happy Mother's Day~

Wishing all the mothers out there a Happy Mother's Day.

I am grateful for the woman who taught me all I know and it is because of her I am who I am.

Love you mom!

June 2009

~Upholstered Headboard~

Gathering all the furniture and accessories for my daughter's room has been such a fun process. I am making changes along the way, trying to listen to my daughter's desires for what kind of space she wants. She will let me paint her room Stonington Gray but doesn't want any white furniture. She really wanted a new desk and a different bed. I sourced out a great find from Craigslist and will share later on. 

What she REALLY wants is an upholstered headboard. Before I can make her a headboard I need to change up her bed. She is currently sleeping on the one half of the pine bunk bed she had shared with her sister.

 But that is so yesterday! 

I have sourced some inexpensive box springs for both my girls' beds and will be picking them up next week. In our garage I have a huge piece of plywood that will be enough to make two headboards, one for each girl. My dad is coming to visit next week and am hoping I can sweet talk him into bringing his jigsaw and cutting out a shape for the headboard. Maybe a plate of cookies and a good cup of coffee might do the trick??

Now the dilemma is: What shape?

via decorpad

A slight curve?

via design*sponge

Really curvy?

source: Aubrey and Lindsay's blog

(Check out the side table, I am using that as an inspiration for my daughter's room)

 A slight sexy curve with nailhead detail?

via decorpad

Or with square lines and tufted?

I will pull out the fabric which I have had for almost a year and see how it will inspired the shape. Hopefully by the next few weeks I will have the bed up and room finished!

Here is a great DIY upholstered headboard video tutorial from my favourite online design show that is produced by Canadian House and Home!