Hutch Top Turned into a Cabinet

The cabinet in my laundry room used to be the top of a hutch that I picked up at a flea market for around $30. The only before picture I could find was this one.

It’s a simply made (probably homemade) shelf unit. It had the “legs” on it so that it could be on top of a lower cabinet. You get the idea. I needed closed storage in my laundry room in a bad way. After I priced upper cabinets, uh, not gonna happen, I started looking around the house. Nothing is safe around here. I had another hutch top in the garage that was too big for the space. So I asked Rob to use the doors off of it to make a closed cabinet. I think he did a great job.

He cut the bottom off and sanded it. Added a piece of 1x12 to the middle, so that the doors would fit, and then I painted them. I didn’t have the heart to paint the chippy white sides. I love ‘em. I might end up painting the front off- white. Are you always tweaking like I am? Are you my kinda crazy? ha
More detail.
 

It’s a tiny laundry room so the added storage really helps. Now I’m on the hunt for a cabinet for the powder room. Wish me luck!
Tanya
I’m linking up with Between Naps on the Porch.

Do You or Don’t You…Wallpaper?

Several rolls of beautiful, vintage grasscloth wallpaper have found their way into my stash recently. I can’t decide where to put it up at or even if I want to. Wallpaper has been making a comeback and I find myself liking it when it’s done right. What’s right? Well, for me it’s when a fresh print is used as an accent. Or when texture is added in a room. I’m gaga over texture!

Bedroom accent wall.

Love this accent of wallpaper in the living room. Nicely done.

 

How about this bathroom where maps were used for wallpaper? I think this room was done by designer Heather Chadduck. I absolutely love everything she does.

So what do you think? The grasscloth could go in my bedroom or powder room (which is on my last nerve right now), or maybe even the dining room. Here it is, to give you an idea of the color and texture.

So do I or don’t I?

Tanya

 

 

Images via Google

I Still Love Chalkboard Paint

I had some chalkboard paint left over in the garage. Around here, that can be dangerous. I had painted a little bit on the wall and framed it for a chalkboard as you can see here. That worked great until I moved the brown bookshelf upstairs. Then the frame fell down one night and scared us half to death. I left it off for awhile as you can see in this picture at Thanksgiving.

Before.

I stuck the frame back up for Christmas but by this time it was BUGGING me. So I pulled a little shabby desk up to it and painted the whole wall with chalkboard paint. Rob added some vintage wheels onto the desk to make it the right height. I love it now. It’s a great little spot to sit and write and I could still serve drinks there for a party. Take a look.

After: A comfy place to sit and a few of my favorite things.

I didn’t write on the chalkboard because it wasn’t completely dry. But I had to let you take a look. What do you think? What will you paint with chalkboard paint this year?

 

Tanya

I’m linking up with Faded Charm!

Hand-made Gifts & Cheap, Chic Gift Wrap

SPOILER ALERT* Kari, do not look at this post!

Ok, now that I got that out of the way….Are things starting to pile up at your house like they are at mine?

I’m getting last minute gifts finished and wrapped. Then the cooking and fun will begin. At times I feel like the hair (rabbit?) from Alice in Wonderland. Constantly checking my watch and thinking, “I’m late.” But truly it just goes with the territory and it’s not my first Rodeo, or Christmas.

So here are a few handmade gifts for the cutie AKA my new grandbaby.

I did a little of the stitching by hand and some by machine. Used wonder under to iron on the appliqués. Not really difficult projects but just took a little time.

I also wanted to show you my Daughter-in-law’s cool, eco-chic, green, just plain fun gift wrap ideas. She’s a gift wrap guru!

She used scraps of yarn for the pom pom bows, comics, upcycled some brown bags, and twine. Super cute! She also used a metallic marker to add a chevron pattern and other designs. The tags were cut out of cereal box cardboard with faux bois contact paper added to the front.Very low cost but doesn’t feel like it. Love that!

Now I’m off to decoupage a wooden tray.

Book Page Wreath

I love old dictionaries and books in general. So it’s a little hard for me to tear pages out. But I love the end result!

The patina of the pages mixes in perfectly with my fall decorating.

I’ve been adding a few pumpkins and fall type accessories here and there.

I’ve really gotten away from any “over the top” seasonal decorating lately. A more natural, organic theme has suited me (and my cottage) best over the last couple of years.

The turkey plates I bought  from TJ Maxx last year. I was going to add some pieces for this Thanksgiving but I haven’t seen them. Just as well, because I like to mix it up a little anyway!

A little bit of whimsy with an Apothecary jar of miniature hay bales.

More fall decor to come. Rob is going to put a new tabletop  on my farm table before Thanksgiving. Can’t wait to show you. Poor guy, his list never gets shorter around here!

Shabby Chic Aquarium

We have this 29 gallon aquarium that we bought last Christmas. Sounded like a good idea at the time. You know how it goes. Anyway, it was in my dining room and it was becoming an eyesore. Not really, but I can’t handle furniture that I can’t move around! So it had to go up to teenage son’s room or get a makeover. So we went on a thrift store shopping hunt for anything funky, kitschy or just different. We found this “blue boy” statue for $1. We both thought he looked like an artifact that had fallen from a Victorian shipwreck long ago. I added some decorative paper to the back and a couple of pottery Sake’ cups that we had. Voila! Now the aquarium gets to stay in the kitchen (where we moved it).

The fish seem to like it.

On another note, cooler weather and some rain have finally arrived. It’s beginning to feel like fall around here.

 

Until next time…

Just for fun say “turquoise purse” 3 times fast! Don’t look at the words as you say them. Can you do it on the first try?

 

Tanya

Repurposed Baskets to Nightstand

It’s a simple idea. Try some alternatives by your bedside; baskets, a stump, crates, books. Use what you have, throw a lamp on it, crawl in bed and read a book!

While you’re at it, why not put a vintage blanket up (on clip rings) for a funky,re-purposed curtain. I used this one for my linen closet upstairs. No sewing required!

More thrifty ideas to come. I’m full of it them!

Tanya

Thrifty Outdoor Table Setting

Summer is the perfect time to have dinner outside. I gathered a few things from around the house and garden to set an inviting table.

Come and see…

I have a chippy picnic table and benches that I picked up at a garage sale. I plan on refinishing it. But for now, I’ll use what I have.

I pulled a vintage glider up to the table to make it more comfortable and interesting. I added a lace tablecloth that was handmade by a grandmother. Wicker placemats are layered on. Add white dishes, vintage flatware, sparkly glasses, cloth napkins, and river stones.

The mix of rustic with refined, such as the crystal pedestal next to basic jar candles, keeps it casual. In lieu of blooms are fresh cut herbs surrounding a couple of nursery pots with ferns in them.

A little brown butterfly couldn’t resist the Oregano blossoms.

Canning jars and a galvanized bin work perfectly to keep the iced tea and lemonade chilled.

Add in a few comfortable cushions and hopefully you’ll linger at the table while it’s still warm and green outside.

Use what you have. Set the table, add some natural elements from the garden, mix rustic and refined, and make it comfortable.

Enjoy your Summer meals without buying anything but the groceries!

Tanya

I’m linking up with The Shabby Nest and Faded Charm. Go visit them for more inspiration and fun! Of course, after you leave me a comment.

Closet Door Before & After

When we carved out a space for our pantry in the kitchen, some of the closet under the stairs was sacrificed. This was ok by me because it actually made the odd space at the back more useable. However, I hated that it didn’t have a door!

You might recognize that shoe rack! Anyway, I now have a door and I want to show it to you.

Ta da!

I think she’s lovely. We (of course by “we” I mean Rob) used hardware that is traditionally used to frame up a fence gate.

It’s still kind of messy in there. But it gives a place for mail, vacuum hoses, and backpacks to live. I did a whitewash on the actual door and painted the trim. What do you think? Should I just go ahead and paint it? Your opinion please…

I’m linking up at Cindy’s Romantic Home. So much fun and inspiration that you have to check it out!

Tanya

Thrift Store Frames

Most of my house has what I call “awkward wall space.” These are spaces that traditional art or wall decor won’t fit or just looks…awkward. Besides, although I love it, I’m too cheap frugal to spend a lot of cash on art. Of course up-cycling has become an art in itself, no?

The first place I’m showing you is in my kitchen. There’s a hallway that leads to my garage but it has a nice big window. It was ok but still needed a little something.

“Why not my kids artwork?” I asked myself.

I placed the artwork in thrifted frames that I had stashed away. The pop of color is just perfect.

The next area in need of help was also in my kitchen. I had removed my large windowpane chalkboard and now the wall was naked!

Back into my frame stash. This time I pulled out a large one and stapled chicken wire on the back. Adding stamped clothespins turned it into a message/photo board. It’s a great place to put pictures, sayings, schoolwork, reminders, or anything else that you can pin up with a clothespin (not including your laundry).

Well, there you have it. A couple of ideas for all of those garage sale frames that you’ve been hanging onto. Go forth and fill them!

Tanya