Vacations Feel Nice, But So Does Productivity

It's been a while since I have posted anything, and that's mainly because I haven't really done a whole lot around the house in the last few weeks. Except maybe watch HGTV. That doesn't count. But Jamey and I recently took a trip to Nebraska to visit my friends and family, which was a much-needed break. We enjoyed ourselves so much that it was hard to get back into the groove once we got home. I was in so much of a post-vacation stupor the day after we got back, that I inadvertently wore two different shoes to work and didn't even realize it until 3 hours into my shift. Oy. Time for another vacation. But the nice thing about taking a break from things is that it gives you a chance to recharge and save up energy for another project. Another nice thing is that it gives my favorite thrift stores and junk shops time to get in some new merchandise. So this week, on my day off, I went hunting for a few more items on our list.

We still have a few blank areas in our living room that need something. I know I want to put a small bookcase or ladder shelf in the corner, but I haven't been able to find one that fits both the space and our budget. I'm not sure I'm handy enough to build one, but I sure thought about it. We also have a small space in between the closet and the hallway that I thought would be perfect for a side chair or table. I just about bought a small table the other day at a thrift store, but I thought it was a little overpriced at $20 since it was kind of ugly and needed some paint. Then Jamey reminded me that we have an absolutely hideous extra nightstand already, and it actually fits the space perfectly. Jackpot! I love free projects!

Let me first say this thing is horrible. It is seriously the worst table ever. Structurally it is fine, and rather sturdy, but visually it needed a lot of help. It's missing a handle, the finish is old and tacky, there are water stains on the top, and the gold oriental hand-painted design on the front is not exactly the kind of vintage art I find appealing. But I thought it might have potential, so I kept it. Or rather, I allowed it to stay in our home. Jamey got this table at an estate sale while he was in college, so you can imagine it hasn't been well-preserved (no offense, Jamey...). However, I've heard that chalk paint can cover a multitude of flaws (with no prep), and decided to try it out myself. Chalk paint is crazy expensive, so I opted to make my own using some plaster of paris ($3 at Hobby Lobby and enough to  last a long time) and some old oops paint and 8 oz. paint samples I got at Home Depot. This project is CHEAP, guys! And it doesn't look like it's cheap, so it's really the best DIY project ever.




I want this space to be a sort of catch-all to organize mail and keys, and all the little things that pile up on our kitchen table because we don't have a good place for them. I got the hanging mail folders at Home Goods, and I plan to hang up a key hook (shaped like an old key) that our realtors gave us as a housewarming gift.

Here's the table after a coat of Sterling Grey chalk paint. Look at the carved in detail at the bottom! You couldn't see it before, but now you can. But you CAN'T see all the mess in the background. Nope. That's just your imagination.

I painted the drawers the same color, and then taped a zig-zag pattern, which I then painted over with teal.

And here they are after being painted. I wasn't too thrilled with the painter's tape, because the paint bled through it and I had to touch up some edges with a fine paint brush. So next time I will probably use some better tape.

I then coated the whole thing with a layer of paste wax (if it doesn't hold up I might try polyurethane, but it really seems to bring out a nice subtle shine and smooths out the chalky texture) and then buffed it with a clean cloth. Looks like a million bucks!

Still missing a drawer pull, but I ordered one online and it won't be here for a few days. I had issues with finding drawer pulls because the old ones had two screws 1" apart. Nobody makes those anymore, apparently, and I didn't feel like filling in holes and drilling new ones. So I finally found a cute Lion's Head brass pull ring for the top drawer, and I'm re-using the existing pull for the bottom. 

Still assembling the parts, and will probably have Jamey hang the stuff, since it's my least favorite job. Muahaha. Actually we just don't have any screws to hang stuff, or we do, but I can't find them anywhere. So here's a semi-finished picture.

This might just be my favorite project so far. I'm really glad it went together so easily, especially since I decided to tackle painting the master bedroom today, and didn't really have time for a problem project. I love it when things come together better than I imagined!

Next Up: This blue dresser I found at a thrift store. I thought it would be ideal for a baby's room, for whenever we have kids, and the price was too good to pass up. Thankfully, there's no rush on this one, so I have plenty of time to come up with a design for it. ;-)

Progress at Last: Our Semi-Finished Living Room!

We are FINALLY making progress on decorating. When I say WE, I really mean me, but Jamey has veto power on most things if he doesn't like it. And I try really hard to incorporate elements that he likes as well, so it's not just my space, but ours combined. I am way behind on posting pictures of our new paint job, but I was kind of waiting until I had something to show. I took a few pictures of the living room tonight with my phone, so they aren't the best quality. But you'll at least get an idea of how it looks. The living room is about the only area I have arranged close to how I want it... There's still a few things I want to do - hang curtains, get a corner bookshelf, hang some more pictures and things - but it's starting to feel like our home. I told Jamey when we first moved in that I felt like I was living in someone else's house, because we hadn't yet put our stamp on the place. It's a weird feeling, knowing that you own the house, but not fully OWNING it. The maroon walls didn't help. In case you need a reminder:

And here it is now:

It doesn't even look like the same room! I really like to incorporate a lot of color, but not so much on the walls. I love the blue/gray as a neutral backdrop, making the colors in the furnishings really pop.

As you can see, the curtain rod has yet to be hung up, but that's because I haven't figured out how I want it exactly. Too many options for curtains, I tell ya.

Here's our nice cozy chair.

Here's the cat. 

I really love how the fireplace looks with the grey paint on the walls. It really enhances the marble and makes it look beautiful. I will probably re-arrange the mantle a few more times before I feel like it's just right, but that's just how it goes. But I have to say I really love how my giant ink drawing of a cypress tree seems to fit right in with the fireplace. Every time I look at it, it brings back good memories of my senior year of college, my art classes, and dating Jamey. Good old days.

If you're wondering what the pile of junk is in the corner, that's Huxtable's toy box. I found a basket at a garage sale that does a pretty good job of containing them so they're not scattered all over the house. But as soon as I put them away, he thinks I put something new and exciting in there, so he has to get them all out to look for it. Silly dog. 

I found this unique vintage venetian blind lamp at a local antique store for fifteen bucks. I liked the color and the age of it, and Jamey said it reminded him of some band called Devo... so I guess that means he likes it too. 

If you know Jamey, you know that he really really likes cars. And races. And race cars. And if you know anything about me, you know that I love antiques and old things in general. So when I found these old Art Deco racing posters, I thought it was a perfect compromise for us, not to mention it makes a perfect feature wall in our living room. I found the frames on clearance at Michaels so overall it was an effective and budget-friendly way to decorate an empty wall. The colors really help brighten up the space too. 

It's a nice cozy space now, but it feels light and airy at the same time. It really feels like our home now.

And there you have it!