backsmash

A few more kitchen pictures...  The one of the left features our new access hatch, which gives us access to the piping under our stairs as well as a good place to store those things we don't use very often.  The one on the right features my new backsplash (less than $25 total).  I tried to use etching cream to stencil the pattern directly onto the piece of glass, but it was a flaming disaster.  I eventually decided to paint the pattern directly on the wall and I finally have a backsplash I can be proud of!

trash to treasure

My $2 yard sale desk...

< Before

 

< After

recipe for renovation

Check out my new cart I found for just $10!  It had a little rust on top, so I sanded it down and painted it orange.  I also found an adorable apron, which I decided to use as a curtain.  I stuck a favorite recipe in the pocket.  :)

On the subject of the kitchen, we have decided to finally make some changes.  We replaced all the hardware on the cabinets and we ordered new countertops.  I can't tell you how happy I will be to see the nasty green and creme tile go away.  Now I just need to pull down the Willy Wonka wallpaper and figure out what colors we want to paint the cabinets and walls.

We're a little nervous about home renovations as no project (great or small) has gone smoothly with this house.  The countertop specialist told us that if the cabinets were off by more than 1/8" they would not install the countertops.  I think we can all agree that NOTHING is level in an older home.  This should be an adventure, to say the least.

great friday

Had lots of fun junkin' with Joan at the Depot at Gibson Mill. This is my $25 find of the day--a metal cabinet with an enamel top, perfect for storing Gromit's stuff in our laundry room!

reinVented

I knew I could make something fun out of these guys! All I needed were the awesome patterns designed by Surly Bird Studio and my awesome Dremel tool to attach the hooks for the ribbons. I cannot say enough about how much I love that thing! (Thanks for the early Christmas gift, Santa!)

couch potato

The dining room is almost done! I just have a few framed patterns designed by Surly Bird Studio to hang from my glass doorknobs (above the church pew). I love this room so much that I almost want to eat dinner at the dinner table. Almost.

terrarium treasure

Found this candle holder at a yard sale a few weeks ago and turned it into a terrarium centerpiece for the dining room table.

let there be light

Please pay no attention to the fruity wallpaper or hideous tile countertops. This before & after applies only to the pendant lights. We traded out the brass beauties for some gorgeous Edison-style globes.

on the prOWL

At 7:30 this morning, I convinced Seth to come along with me for a fun morning of yard sale hopping and Bo'Jangles, of course, which helped the coercion tremendously. For some reason, he couldn't imagine why on earth I wanted to buy a set of these brass owls. He just doesn't see the potential (yes, there will be an "after" post of this one...).

tic-tac-whoa

A fresh coat of Chatham Tan and 25 wallflowers make the dining room look and feel like a brand new space. More photos to come!

sometimes it pays to dwell

Remember when this was just a dream? After months of stalking every Target within a 70-mile radius, one of them finally clearanced my quilt! Now I'm stalking the matching shams, which are still full price as of today...

doggy decor

Two clearanced wooden hangers from Ikea + two free prints from Walgreens + two removable Command hooks = an inexpensive & fun way to decorate the laundry room (which also happens to be Gromit's "apartment").

mirror, mirror on the wall...

This is quite possibly one of my favorite trash-to-treasures. I found this 1984ish gold mirror at a yard sale for $3, slapped a few coats of spray paint on it, and created a gift for some friends of ours who have been looking for a mirror just like this to decorate their new home. The picture frame in the bottom right corner is from Hobby Lobby. It matched the mirror so perfectly that I couldn't resist. :)

spring blossom green

My sweet Aunt and Uncle have been on the prowl for my favorite Corelle pattern (Spring Blossom Green) for over a year now. Because we don't see each other often, we celebrated my mom's birthday and Christmas today while they were visiting my parents. I am touched beyond words at the generousness and dedication it took to track down this gift, especially considering how many states were traveled in the process (GA, TN, NC, AL, and CO, to name a few). I came straight home and set the table with my new-to-me dishes, which match our place-mat and chair upholstery fabric perfectly!