Things that make me HAPPY! Pink and white edition

 

In the summer I love an extra hit of girly-pink in my life. I think it's that I can finally rock all my dresses that stare at me so longingly in the closet all winter. Nothing screams feminine like dresses! So today's Things that make me Happy is all about pink, and my always favorite: white!

Speaking of dresses, I am so in love with this classic summer dress from Alberta-local Splurge & Co. White, light weight. It is my idea of the ideal Summer uniform.

 

There's a little blue in this mix, but I've been hoarding vintage sheets, fabric and craft supplies like there is no tomorrow. I can't give you all the details today but I have some fun news to share in the next week! I'm hoping a few of you local ladies will give me a hand in coming up with some creations involving these pretties.

 

My sister in law and I had a pretty successful thrift run a couple weeks ago. Latte bowls, a Crate & Barrel creamer and vintage sheets were a handful of my favs. 

Can we talk about hospital blankets for a moment? It sounds crazy but they are amazing for summer evenings (and those of us who don't have AC). We've put away the duvets and started a small collection of second hand hospital blankies. Weird? maybe.

But they all seem to have a perfect cream color with stripes in different patterns and colors that blend perfectly  into our color scheme. And they are super comfy. Sean was a little if-y on them at first. But he was suddenly on board the first night it was above 25 celsius LOL.

 

I added two old-school ikea floral shams to our bed and it's funny how fast they take it from classic tradtional to girly slumber-party-chic. It may annoy the Mister but I need a temporary dose of floral now and again. And summer feels like the right time to get my fill. 

even if it's just for a few weeks. What has been making you happy lately? Anything Pink???

Setting The (craft) Table

I am sure it isn't just a girl thing, but Wren is more involved in crafting and art than any and all her toys combined. From what the other moms in her preschool tell me, their little ladies all feel the same way. And while I have no qualms with sharing counter/desk space when we are eyeballs deep in a project, I thought it would be nice for her to have a space of her own for the very same purpose.

Once upon a time we had a chair in this corner of Wren's room. It was very sweet and useful as a baby, but as she has gotten older we don't do a lot of sitting in it. Once the crib is out of the room you do most of the story telling in bed. 

So I swapped it out with a cute little yellow table I found in a corner at the local Goodwill. It had a dreamy little $3.99 sticker on it and that was all it took to seal the deal. It is chipped, a little dinged and all around perfect for the abuse it is sure to take at the world headquarters for my mini Martha.

 

A $1 wicker basket with a plastic liner for all her crayons and pencils was another thrifted find. Immediately she began with her crafting, just standing at the table and working on her own. But I kept my eyes peeled for about a month for some cute chairs. I hummed and hawed over the little Ikea kids chairs but those are $20 each for the wood ones and I felt like maybe there was something more original out there.

When last weekend my Sister in Law, Kate, and I hit up a local antique mall to scope out some goodies for her nearly finished condo revamp and I spotted an antique pink table with two matching chairs for $25. I LOVED that the chairs were different but painted the same pink, and while I already had a table I scooped up the set and took the other table down to her pink playroom in the basement for her kitchen set up. 

We often have 2 little girls over instead of just one so I would love to round it out with one more chair. And while I am going to keep my eyes peeled I think I might cave and add a kids Panton chair to the mix for that touch of unexpected mod. Who knows, maybe it will someday inspire her to become an architect or furniture designer?? 

The funny part is that no matter how much time and thought I put into it, nothing will quite beat the comfort of a seat like this.

Happy Monday Friend!

Kate's Apartment

I have been tight lipped about a project I've been having lots of fun with. Besides the holidays, the birthdays and ParkView (we may just have these things they call walls by the early new year), I have been working together with my Sister in Law, Kate to revamp her condo.

When we do the big unveiling I will show you all the before shots, but here is what we are working towards in her living room and dining room. 

Kate is a really fun, light hearted, mid-twenties girl who lives downtown. We wanted to take advantage of having some small pops of pink around her place since she lives on her own.

Kate wants lots of white, a lot of accessories for a very eclectic, traveled look, and a touch of modern glam. 

The challenge? We are working our tails off to pull off a makeover of her entire place (including her bedroom) for around $1200!! We have a lot of our key pieces already and have thrifted piles and piles of accessories and treasures so our goal is in good shape (so far!). 

Kate is taking of some time from work for the holidays so we can feverishly finish her place by the new year, which is when I am looking forward to sharing it all here!

Stripped Down Dresser

I did some interesting refinishing a couple weeks ago. The interesting part was that I stripped it down, but didn't paint it. I felt kind of lost when my work was done at the point I usually feel it is just beginning.

 

It came about when Sean told me he wanted a different dresser as his night stand. He wanted more storage. 

So I took him on a thrift store run and look what he found! I know it looks JUST like the dresser we already have in there. AND it's already white! But guess what?

This dresser is metal. The whole thing!

 

We immediately fell in love with it and how unique it was. In years and years of painting furniture I've never ever came across one. I knew they existed, but hadn't ever seen one in person. So I stripped it down, years and years of different paint. ALMOST all the way down. 

 

Leaving just enough patina to keep it from feeling too tool-chest-like. Once it was done we decided it looked far more lovely in the living room so we were still left hanging for Sean's bedside dresser...

 

So we moved this new/old dresser upstairs and it feels perfect. 

 

The wood is the perfect warmth for the room. And he has 3 whole drawers to hold his sock collection!

This is what I call a win-win.

 

And I will definitely be dragging the poor guy out thrifting way more often if this is what happens!

DIY Antler Art

If you follow my instagram feed you already know that last week I got all bundled up and headed out. To do what, exactly? Dig in an old barn of course!

Wren, my Aunt Carol and I all headed out of town to meet with a lady that gave us permission to dig around her out buildings for goodies. There were a couple goodies to be had (crocks, chandeliers, dressers, were just a few treasures we found) but the main reason for our excursion was the massive amount of old antlers and horns she had. I guess the previous owner of the land was a major hunter and didn't have much use for dozens of antlers! In the end I brought home 4 pairs for $40 and Carol basically filled my trunk with the rest LOL.

{ But we had some use for a few }

 

I LOVED that the horns had all sat out side for so long that they were nicely weathered and bleached. 

The skull portions though still kind of bothered me. Some were nice and bleached, others.... not so much.

There is nothing I won't do to make a project happen, guys! I literally broke out the saw and trimmed down bone on some of these and scrubs dried blood and hair off others.

EWWWWWWWWWWW

I nearly dropped the project at that point, but when I clicked on a Restoration Hardware email later that night and saw these antlers I decided to just fight through the ewww.

BUT I still wasn't that fond of all the color variation on the bone portion so I came up with a plan to 'mummify' the skull with some linen scraps I had. I cut the scraps into nice strips and just went to town wrapping!

 

I didn't want it to look perfect, and while the fabric frayed a little more I did go back and just trim down stray strands.

{ all mummified }

I am really happy with them all hung. The ceiling in here is SOOO high, but most things would not make sense going up that high. 

 

The variation in shape and size is my favorite part. 

Now I just need to get painting! I am excited but a little scared to be up that high with my brush and roller.

Ikea Chalk Board Table

 

I may be coming down with something guys, I painted... something... BLACK! Huh? What? maybe I should sit down for a minute???

In all fairness, it wasn't for the sake of wanting black furniture. It was to add a dash of fun in our dining room with some chalk.

I found this table at Goodwill last week and knew it was perfect for a wall in our dining room. It was $14 and when I flipped it over it had a sticker that said Ikea Lack. I thought "cool! If anyone likes this project they can do it too!", and you still can, but I guess the Lack sofa table/console isn't made anymore... which is a bummer because the size and dimensions are awfully close to the always popular Parsons Table from West Elm.

{ the table in it's wood grained glory }

 

(and yes, I notice that I have baseboard missing there. I will admit I have procrastinated on that project for about 6 months now and this may just be the motivation to finally get it done. The joys of renovating!!)

I threw a can of spray chalkboard paint on the table. It was my first time using the canned stuff and it worked well, but really, is it any different than flat paint, beside being triple the price??? I might see how flat spray paint works on future projects first unless someone can talk be off the ledge with some words of wisdom.

 

While I don't mind a pop of black or dark grey here or there it was a lot to take in for me. I think the main issue was that it looked too stark. I wanted it to look more like slate, and not so new. So I rubbed the whole thing down with chalk. I would have done it outside (and if you can, definitely go that route) but it was a torrential down pour the weekend I tackled this project.

 (side note: our sump pump gave out at 10pm Sunday night as water was rising FAST. Thank goodness I have a handy hubby, he got it sorted out, found an emergency plumber on Kijiji and got us a new one before we had a pond for a basement. NOT fun!!)

Back to the project!! All rubbed up.

 

A quick wipe with a dry paper towel gives it the look I was going for.

 

Now here's where I need your help!! I had just got it all set up and photographed like this when an assortment of cool things came home from the Salvation Army with me. 

I couldn't leave well enough alone so I need your opinion on which set up is your fav!

{Set up 1 }

 

I went simple for my first attempt at free hand decorating a table. But wouldn't a detailed faux bone inlay look amazing? It is in a low traffic area so it wouldn't be ruined in a hot minute, but I know in a foyer or office it wouldn't stand a chance.

 

Haven't tackled the ceiling yet, but I am ITCHING to get started!

 

As many of you have noticed and commented, my linen lion chairs that were intended for Lexington never made it over there. My dining room held them hostage instead.

 

I also switched the table out with this antique french provincial table I have like 6 leaves for! Good for entertaining. It was stripped by the previous owner and I used tinted wood stain to give it the driftwood/limed wood look. I have been asked by friends if it was done with chalkpaint but I am going to share a little secret, one I know will not be popular: I do not like chalkpaint. I know!! It is all the rage right now, but I am not. a. fan. On a high traffic surface that we use and wash daily I need durability, and I had a can of this color of stain leftover from some of our floor projects at Lexington. The color name escapes me, but it was pre-tinted and by Verathane brand. After a few months of solid use I am more than pleased with it and not a scratch, oil spot or scuff can be seen even though it is a flat finish.

 

The title page of some old sheet music made a fast and easy art addition.

  

One last look at set up number 1!

 

Then this really cool french bucket jumped out at me for $5 at the Salvation Army!!! And now the lavender doesn't fit under the table so I had to move it all around...

 

{ Set up number 2 }

What's the verdict judges??? Set up 1 or 2?

Have a happy and fun weekend!

Living room fairies

I am constantly surprised by the variety and inconsistency of things that appeal to me. A little living room shuffle happened last week when I brought home an armful of antique paintings (only wanted 2 but had to take all 5).

These strange little cherrubs/fairies/I-have-no-idea-what-they are's were in the bundle of tag alongs.

The corner wall under my 'ghost lamps' sees a lot of furniture traffic. I am not sure why but I never seem to feel content with the situation there. I think it is because I don't push the sofa all the way back to the window so then any dresser/ furniture seems too far away in comparison.  I usually just rotate through things that are on hand to complete that little spot because I know I will tire of it or not be all that excited with the results so why spend money.

I guess I am not all that creative at the heart of it, because it had never occurred to me to use outdoor furniture for such a spot, or any spot really. Once I took down the previous ship painting (to add it to my expanding ocean wall on the staircase) I needed to throw something up and these little guys were my best option. I give them full credit for working their magic in getting this space up to snuff.

The table is part of a little bistro set I scooped up for $25 about a year and a half ago. It saw some use last summer, but this year it was sitting dormant in the basement now that we have a patio set like real adults.

The painting worked out to be $12, and while the general consensus on instagram was that they were creepy little dudes (at times I wholeheartedly agree, at others they charm me with some sort of spell), in the end I kind of adore them. It seems to be an awfully old oil painting, and I find it so interesting that cherubs would be wielding wands. So I call them my little fairies instead.

A pile of old keys from France, my Restoration Hardware lavender and some random candle sticks all came out of the basement.

Back when I did my ghost lamps I didn't twine the cords all the way down since I knew they would be covered by a dresser. Now I have to break out the glue and twine again to git'er done.

I hope my fairies/creepy little dudes put a little magic in your day!

{Please Be Careful} Stepping Ladder

I finished a little project for my assistant, aka Wren. We want to renovate her bathroom this fall and I've been on the lookout for random odds and ends that could work in there. A stool is right up there among necessities for toddler bathrooms if you want to keep those pearly whites white! But I figured it is something we can always use around the house at any time. So, when I saw one at goodwill I didn't hesitate to get the makeover in progress long before the reno commences.

Plus, I am not about to turn down a helper at wash time!

 

It all started with this $6, homemade stool. I liked that it was a little higher than many new ones and the X detail on the front was adorable.

 

If you have a stool you want to try this on here are the steps I used for mine.

{ Step 1 }

- - - - - - - 

Prime and paint. Do not skip the ever important priming step if you are working on original, unfinished wood!

{ Step 2 }

- - - - - - -

This is optional, but I decided to paint out my steps a very light grey for a soft contrast. I actually played with the idea of doing Ombre steps but ended up deciding on using words (I felt both would be a little over powering for such a little item).

 

{ Step 3 }

- - - - - - -

Print out your phrase in what ever font/size you like. Once it is printed hold the paper up to a window backwards and trace it with a pencil. Press fairly hard so you leave a good amount of carbon on the paper. 

{ Step 4 }

- - - - - - -

Hold your paper in place and rub it like crazy with a smooth, hard object. I like to use the back of a screw driver or the top of a pen. It makes it easy to know where to rub since you can see your printed word on both sides of the paper. It's okay if it isn't too dark or perfect, just as long as you can see enough to go over with a paint brush.

{ Step 5 }

- - - - - - -

Paint! I like to use an old make up brush (sitting on top step) and slowly fill in with a dark grey paint. But you can do any color so long as it easily covers your pencil marks

 

{ Step 6 }

- - - - - - -

Enjoy!

 

I have a little helper who is already in love with the steps now that she can easily access the snacks. 

As evidenced by bite marks in 5 different peaches...