Thrifting Update

Can you believe I am already back for another blog post? Three posts in less than two weeks...a record for me (sad record, I know). Hey, while I am on a roll, I am going to get as many posts in as I can. As a mom of little ones, I don't get "on a roll" very often so I will take advantage (yes, I consider this to be on a roll;)). Now, if only I could get on a roll with cleaning, organizing and exercising, etc. ;-)

A few months ago, I showed you guys some of my thrift store purchases and I told you to "check back in" for an update on how I changed those items and where they ended up in my home. After months of moving things around and moving them around again, I think I found "the right spot" for each piece (at least for now;)). Accessorizing is always "trial and error" for me. I start by putting an accessory in a place I think it will look good...sometimes I know right away it's wrong...sometimes I know right away that it's right...and sometimes I have to just leave it there for a few days (or weeks) to decide if I like it or not. Anyway, for these accessories, after all their shuffling, I think I am finally happy with how each of them turned out and where each of them ended up!  Let's start with looking back at THIS POST to see what these pieces looked when I brought them home in their original (ugly) state.

Here are each of the items now:

First up is the small glass thingamajig (have no idea what to call it...it's terrarium meets cake stand). I spray painted the base white and filled it with faux "moss rocks". It is currently in the kitchen, on top of my stove. Here is how it turned out...

Next is the large wooden frame. I removed the lion painting (what? how could you? ;-)) and gave the frame a facelift by painting (dry brushing) it white. It is hanging as an open frame in my entryway on my new chalkboard wall. I am definitely going to redo the arrangement of the house rules but I will update you on that in a later post.

Here is a closer look at the dry brushing...it has more of a distressed look with this technique.


Next are the two wooden candle holders that used to be painted gold...look at the two outside candle sticks with the round candles wrapped with twine.


Up close...








Below is the former brass candle stick...this one I spray painted white and also rubbed a little distressed ink to make it look older (hard to tell in the pictures)...








And lastly, the brass tin...I spray painted it -you'll never guess---white ;) on the outside and I left the inside unpainted.



So, which one is your favorite? Which do you think was the biggest transformation from before to after? Can anyone tell I that like white ;)? When in doubt, paint it white! Hope you like my new and improved (and white;)) thrift store pieces. Goodnight.

Before and After : Half Bath

Happy Tuesday! I am back to continue my (slower-than-molasses) house tour, with before and after pictures of our half bath downstairs and the hallway leading to the bathroom. Like the other pictures I have shown you, the before pictures were taken before we moved in when my realtor was showing us the house for the first time.

Hallway before:



Hallway after:





Much warmer and more inviting, don't you think? I always love a good gallery wall! I got these frames for free from my wonderful in-laws when they were in the process of moving (and purging). I spray painted them all one color (rust-oleum's eden) then added the vases (syrup jars), photos, wreath and, of course, the letter H (I have previously mentioned that I have a slight obsession with using our initial throughout the house:)).
Let's continue, shall we?

Bathroom before:





Bathroom after:


















Doesn't it feel more open without the vanity? Because we lost storage by taking the vanity out, we added the over-the-toilet cabinet to keep cleaning supplies and toilet paper. We kept the existing light (although I still would like to replace it someday) but we (and by "we" I mean Caleb) spray painted it black to better match the oil rubbed bronze faucet and towel holder. Oh spray paint...it covers a multitude of sins! Hope you like the new hallway and bathroom!

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Flea Market Find

I love flea markets! Can I get an amen? Flea markets are certainly not for everyone (Caleb would consider them some form of torture)...I guess you either love them or you hate them. I love them (as I already said;)). Last weekend, I had the great pleasure of getting to have a "girl's day out" (thank you, Caleb!) with one of my closest friends, Lyndsie. (I just can't bring myself to use the phrase "one of my besties"...I know that's what the kids are saying these days, but I am just not that cool. Hey, I own a pair of Tom's, that's enough 'cool' for me;)). Anyway, Lyndsie and I decided to hit up a nearby flea market. We had so much fun browsing and so much fun buying! In the midst of our browsing and buying, we stumbled upon a full size bed that was priced at 5$. Neither of us was needing a bed, and the bed was in need of a serious makeover, but for 5$? We couldn't pass it up. Our plan was simple: buy it, paint and distress it, and resale it on craigslist for more money. So that's what we did (we are still in the process of selling it, so cross your fingers;)).

Here is our little labor of love:
(unfortunately, I forgot to take pics of her before her little makeover....it was a honey stained bed that someone had attempted to paint black, but it just had one coat of paint so it was very streaky and uneven)

The after...


















Our process---
1. Sanded all surfaces with an electric sander
2. Painted two coats of latex paint (crystal aqua by valspar) using paint brushes
3. Waited for the paint to dry (mostly...we are both impatient;))
4. Distressed the corners and edges and curves by sanding until we achieved our desired look (we also used an electric sander for this step).
5. Wiped on a homemade glaze (brown craft paint mixed with water) with a rag
6. Wiped off the excess glaze with a damp rag (once again, wiped it until we achieved our desired look)
And DONE!

Well, what do you think? Wouldn't it be so cute in a little girl's room? If you are wondering about our awesome backdrop for the bed in the pictures, the pictures were taken in one of the rooms in Lyndsie's house. The room has an old fence wood wall treatment done by Lynds and her hubby, Cory. It is as awesome in person as it looks in the photo! Oh, and in case you were also wondering, the rest of our girl's day consisted of eating and more shopping. Lots of shopping (flea market, thrift shop, local boutique, Goodwill, estate sale, Garden Ridge Pottery, Hancock Fabrics and Home Depot)....our husbands' worst nightmare!

Night night!

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