March's Project and Feature Friday: My Friend Darcy

I didn't have many (any?) local friends who love DIY projects and blogging as much as I do....until, my friend Darcy bought a "fixer upper" last fall.  She has tackled so many projects around her home and I'm impressed with the changes she's made.  Darcy is a mom to four kiddos and is also a professional photographer.  She posts beautiful pictures and blogs about her life and family at New Beginnings.

Here's Darcy and her cute girls.  She also has a two-year old son who didn't make it into this picture.

The day Darcy moved in, she had second thoughts about purchasing the house.  Check out her kitchen:

What's up with the two-tone and the dirty, ripped up floor?

Darcy did a project that I have been too scared to try...she painted her cabinets!

Doesn't it look so much better?  I know it was a lot of work.  But, her hard work paid off.

I like the hardware she chose:

She also took out the center of each cabinet and replaced it with beadboard.  She installed beadboard on the island too.

**************************

Remember way back at the beginning of March, I linked up this post to Lisa's monthly before and after party?

I had HUGE aspirations to paint, stencil, build shelving and paint some more in this little niche.

What was I thinking???  I was a little too ambitious this month.

I did get some stenciling done.

Here's the bottom section completed.

Here's the top and I started on my shelving project:

I was having problems stenciling in the tight space and I couldn't get the corners to look right.  I kind of gave up and thought I could just live with the imperfections, but they were way to big and glaring.

So, I decided to paint over the stencil.

I had some leftover paint, Martha Stewart's Plumage, out in the garage that I tried.  I didn't love it. 

So, I'm back to square one!!!  This month was a bit of a failure.  I've tried stenciling in the past and it never turns out like I hope it will.  Lesson learned...NO MORE stenciling for me!

Here's to better luck in April!

Stop by the Before and After party at Shine Your Light to see some bloggers who had more success in completing their projects. 

Office Obsession

Just over a year ago, we turned our office into a bedroom for our 7-year old. She had been sharing a room with her older sister, but they both needed their own space.  Since then, my husband has moved his desk into our bedroom and my stuff is scattered all over the house.

The busier I get, the more I realize I need a dedicated space for my stuff: computer, files, supplies, etc.  Right now, I move my laptop around and have my files in plastic storage bins.  I've also been known to leave important files on the kitchen counter, the kids' craft table, my dresser, or just about anywhere.  It's only a matter of time before something gets lost or ruined.

Here's my dream office:

Source: blog.poppin.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

However, since we don't have an extra room for an office, I've been obsessing over "cloffices," closets turned into offices.  Here are a few that I really like:

Source: thebloominghydrangea.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

This one from Ange at The Blooming Hydrangea has everything I need: a desk, a filing cabinet, and some shelves with boxes to hide other supplies.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

If only I had a little closet in my bedroom.

Source: homestoriesatoz.com via Lea on Pinterest

How pretty and functional is this space from Country Living?

Cassie at Primitive and Proper also made a fun craft closet:

Guess what?  Much to my dismay, I realized that I don't have a closet that can be spared to make a cloffice.  How about a hallway instead?

This hallway is really just a useless, wasted space in our home.  I brought in a table to see how it would fit.

I would need to be the size of a toothpick to fit in here!
The hallway is narrow, so I need something small.  I brought in this little table from the garage to see how it would feel.  This table is only 18 inches wide.  I don't think I could use anything much wider.

This size is much better.  I'm still trying to decide if I could work here, or if it might be too claustrophobic.

If I decide to make my "hloffice," I'm hoping to DIY a desk out of two file cabinets and a board.  I also want to mount two or three shelves on the wall above.  First up, finding the file cabinets. 

Stay tuned.  Hopefully this idea will be taking shape soon.  Unfortunately, "hloffice" doesn't have the nice ring of "cloffice."


Here's a sneak peak of something else I worked on this weekend:

In other news, Sarah at Pewter+Sage is hosting another edition of Mood Board Monday today.  The challenge this time was to design a room around one of three choices of art from Etsy.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to design a mood board this time, but I'm definitely stopping by to see what everyone else created.

March Project: The Neglected Niche

I have been loving the "Before & After" parties that Lisa at Shine Your Light hosts each month.  They give me motivation to finish projects I might not tackle otherwise.







I know you might be tired of seeing this little neesh (or do you say nitch?)  I know I'm a bit tired of staring at this gaping, sad space. 

It doesn't help that the console blends into the wall now that I've got new paint on the walls.

Here are my plans for this space.  Hopefully, I'll be able to complete them all in March!

First up is stenciling the walls of the niche, both above and below.  I've chosen this "Zamira" stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils.

I'm going to use a paint with a metallic finish, probably something silvery.

If you follow me on Pinterest, you might have noticed me pinning lots of living room ideas lately.  I'm thinking about adding shelving to the top niche to resemble a bookcase.  Here are a few ideas:

Source: laurawinslowphotography.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

I'm also considering painting the console.  I'll have to see how it looks with the stenciled wall behind it.  I'm generally drawn to bright, bold colors and patterns.  However, lately I've found myself pinning more neutral rooms.  Isn't this pretty?

Source: srgambrel.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Or here's something more contemporary, yet still in a neutral palette:

Source: shorelychic.blogspot.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

My first thought would be to paint the console a bright coral, like this (but without the mirrors):

Source: vintagerevivals.blogspot.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

But, now I'm leaning towards gray:

Source: google.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Or maybe even white/cream (gasp!) like Emily A. Clark did here:

Here's the rundown:
1.  Stencil
2. Shelving - I'm not sure if this is beyond my skill level.  It might require checking in with my trusty handyman on pricing, etc.
3. Paint console.

Wish me luck!  It looks like I'm going to need it!  Good thing the "After" party isn't until March 30.

Of course, I'm always open to your ideas and suggestions.  You are always so helpful.

Help Me Stencil...Please!?!?

You might remember that I attempted to stencil a wall in my dining room way back before I started blogging.  This is the only picture I have of the stencil fiasco because it was painted over the next day.

I did this wall with a cheapy, little stencil from Hobby Lobby.  It was so hard to do and the results were NOT good.  My husband thinks stencils might not work very well on our walls because they are very textured.

Needless to say, I'm super impressed with all of the bloggers who are able to create beautifully stenciled rooms.  It's not as easy as it looks, or maybe I was just doing something wrong!?!?! 

I've decided I want to give stenciling another try.  Recently I won a giveaway on Simcoe Street for a stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils.  I haven't chosen my stencil, however, because there are so many great options.

 I also don't know where I want to put the stencil.  I'm thinking the wall behind my bed, but the wall is pretty big with a high, vaulted ceiling.  I'm scared!  So, where the stencil will be going is also still an unanswered question.  I think I've been driving my husband crazy with all of my stencil indecision.  That's why I'm turning to you, my blog friends.

Here are some of the stencils I like (all from Cutting Edge).  I'm generally drawn to the simpler, geometric patterns.

I like this gray color scheme (but not necessarily the headboard and bedding).

I'm not usually a damask-type person.  It's just too frilly and flowery for me, but I think this is gorgeous.

This is my husband's favorite. I usually love greek-key on anything, but this seems a little busy.

Do you have a favorite?  Do you have any stencil tips you would be willing to share?

Sunshiny Stenciled Dresser

Thanks to those who came and visited me at A Lived in Home's Makeover Monday yesterday.  While you were there I gave you a little sneak peak of my newest piece.  Here are the details.

Here's what I started with, a $10 garage sale find:

 Someone along the way put on these tiny, little casters.  It was missing one.  See the sad, lopsided way the dresser is sitting?  See the sad, splotchy garage floor I've created?  Oops.

 A missing caster did not deter us.  A quick trip to Home Depot and I was home with these cute little table legs.  HD had lots of different styles of legs.  I had no idea stores carried these, but I'm glad I know now!  They were only about $1.25 each and screwed right into the bottom of the dresser after Big K drilled some holes in it.

Next up was a coat of my favorite Kilz primer.  I was using spray primer on all of my projects, but it's so much cheaper to buy a can and paint it on.  The problem is that oil-based primer can only be cleaned off of brushes with mineral spirits.  I found a great tip from Cassie at Primitive and Proper: instead of cleaning your paint brush after using primer, just wrap it in a plastic bag and pop it in the freezer until you need it again.

 I have been wanting paint something yellow and I was happy when I found this oops paint at the hardware store.  I painted the drawers white and then stenciled on the design.  I used a Martha Stewart stencil that I found at Michael's.  Of course, I used the 40% off coupon that is available on my blog.

Let's talk stencils for a minute.  I LOVE the look of a stenciled wall.  There are so many great examples of this in blogland.  So, this spring I thought I would try it myself.  I stenciled a wall in my dining room.  It turned out horrendously!  I don't even have any pics it was so bad.  I couldn't get the stencil to line up, paint bled through everywhere, etc.  It was basically a HUGE mess and a HUGE waste of time.  I ended up painting over the wall the next day. 

Needless to say, I have tons of respect for all of you bloggers that can stencil a wall.  It is not easy!

After my failed stencil experience, I wanted to try to redeem myself.  I'm never ever going to try a wall again, but I thought a small dresser would be a good place to give stenciling a second chance.

Here's the result:

See the new legs?

 Stencil success!

I kind of love the yellow and turquoise combo.

More on stenciling...I used this little foam roller (also from Michael's).  I made sure the roller was almost dry when I rolled on the paint.  I also used very light pressure when rolling.  Pressing too hard leads to the paint bleeding underneath the stencil.

If you want to give stenciling a try, but are intimidated, I say "go for it!"  It makes a big impact.  What's the worst that can happen?  You might have to paint over it?  But you also might be pleasantly surprised, as I was, and love the result!



Here's a cost breakdown in-case you are interested:

Dresser           $10

Legs               $5

Yellow paint   $5

White paint     already owned

Primer            already  owned

Stencil           $9 (40% off)

Foam Roller   $2

Grand Total  = $31

Not bad!  Especially since the stencil came in a pack of many stencils and I will be able to use them on future projects.

Linking up to some of these great sites:
Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Not Just a Housewife, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Bella Before and After, Primitive and Proper, Home Stories of A to Z, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Tip Junkie, Type A Decorating, http://sistersstuff.blogspot.com/, The Thrifty Home, Domestically Speaking, Primp,
A Diamond in the Stuff, Restore Interiors, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans,My Simple Home Life,
Addicted 2 Decorating, Just a Girl, Remodelaholic, Miss Mustard Seed, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello, Under the Table and Dreaming, Thrifty Decor Chick, Coastal Charm, Junker Newbie