Tag: Interior Design Saratoga Springs New York

Styling a Bookcase

Written by Jenna on August 14, 2012. Posted in Decorating. 45 Comments on Styling a Bookcase

I’ve mentioned here and there that I’ve been working on revamping my faux-stained laminate bookcases, and I can officially say they are done & styled. Take a look…

I LOVE a well-styled bookcase! A good mix of books, accessories, and personal momentos really brings life and character to a bookcase.

When we moved into our home a couple years ago, I was in a wood-tone state-of-mind, and chose these laminate shelves from Walmart for $99/each. They are not at all of great quality, but at the time they fit the bill.

before pictures…

Since then, I’ve started transitioning to a whiter and lighter aesthetic. Once the decision was made to paint the front room a dark navy hue, the dark faux-stained bookcases blended in too much with the dark walls.

With the light green walls, they worked, but not so much now.

So…

White bookcases were a must! Check out the result.

Huge change right?! I have an awesome How-To Paint Laminate tutorial coming soon, but in the meantime, this post is all about How-To Style a Bookcase.

Let’s break it down.

Steps to Styling a Bookcase

1. Whether it’s a butt-load of books or simply a few, since it is a bookshelf, books are the best items to start with. Mix em’ up by having some vertical and others horizontal. Layer them on top of each other and in different ways on the various shelves. Then…

2. Add the accessories. Layer accessories in front of the books, on top of the books, and/or in between the books.

3. Finish with the details. Add pictures and/or momentos that make your bookcase unique and personal.

You saw the one finished bookcase above, and here is the other…

Want to see a closer view? Check out these up-close-and-personal shots…

For the smaller paperback books, I layed them horizontally and in 4 piles with two set back in the center. Having them set back allows for the layering of accessories in front giving depth and an interesting way to view the books. I also like leaning pictures on the backs of the bookcases to add a pop of color.

Love my desk chair? You can learn all about it by clicking here.

I often get asked, Where do you find unique accessories to style the shelves?

Finding accessories that fit your style for a bookcase can sometimes be a challenge. One of my favorite go-to resources for accessories throughout my home is One Kings Lane. They have such a diverse selection and variety of accessories and furniture!

Starting today, OKL has teamed up with Martha Stewart to offer an eclectic collection of french inspired decor including furnishings, art, rugs, tabletop, etc. The Entertaining en Provence event – an extension of an article in the September issue of Martha Stewart Living – incorporates colors like pale greens, sages, creams and linens – o so yummy!

The sale only lasts for 72 hours, so you’ll want to click on over and check out what Ms. Martha has pulled together. If you aren’t a member of OKL, no problem – it’s FREE to sign up!

Here’s a sneak peak at a few of the fab items that you’ll see at the One Kings Lane sale…

Be sure to click over because you might even see some similar accessories to what I used for my bookcase display.

Here’s one more peak of my newly styled bookcases – I know you can’t get enough, hehe.

and…

What do you display on your bookshelves? Do you find it difficult to know where to begin and what to display? Where do you find accessories? Are you a One Kings Lane fan?

Thanks to One Kings Lane for sponsoring today’s post on styling.

My First Annie Sloan Experience

Written by Jenna on August 10, 2012. Posted in DIY. 114 Comments on My First Annie Sloan Experience

Yes, using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is an experience!

If you have no idea what I’m talking about and/or have no idea who Annie Sloan is, no worries, just keep on reading. If you do know about ASCP, stick around and see if you’ve had a similar experience (I’d love to hear your thoughts).

I shared the result of my first Annie Sloan paint project yesterday and the response was unbelievable. Thank you ALL for your kind comments – I was blown away by your kindness! If you missed the reveal, I revamped and reupholstered a side chair for my desk. Before the reupholstery could begin though, I painted the chair frame with my newly purchased Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I had never used this paint before and it was quite an experience. I shared a little about it yesterday, but wanted to go more in-depth with a dedicated post. So here we go…

I’ll start off by saying, I had some issues and jumped a few hurdles, but got through it. (but keep reading please…)

Many of my blogger friends have used the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and the results are amazing. One that really sticks out in my mind is Erin’s table and it’s probably because of the vibrant orange color with the antique dark wax. This piece turned out amazing and after reading her post and seeing her pictures, I was sold and had to place my order.

In the meantime, I also (virtually) met Trish of The Purple Painted Lady and saw this piece which blew me away. Trish and I corresponded back and forth a few times. She gave me amazing tips and techniques on using the paint and wax, so I thought I was on my way.

I ordered a quart of the French Linen color, which seemed similar to the taupe hue that can be seen throughout my home, and a can of the clear wax. My shipment arrived a few days later and an anxiety came over me. After ALL the many DIY projects that I’ve taken on, I was actually nervous to paint. Yes, paint. How could I be nervous?? I think I hyped up the idea of this magical formula so much that my gung-ho attitude went out the door. And for me, when I’m nervous, things go wrong. Does that happen to you?

I started off as I was instructed to (by Trish) and turn the can upside down for at least 60 seconds. Basically, all the good stuff settles to the bottom and needs to be well mixed around. Of course, shake and stir as well.

Then I started painting. Yup, I started painting WITHOUT stripping, sanding, or priming the existing wood. That’s the beauty of chalk paint. It’s designed to adhere to most any surface including wood, concrete, vinyl, and even bathtubs (I learned that from Trish too). Plus it provides 50% more coverage compared to latex, so the 1 quart can goes a LONG WAY – for this chair, I hardly used any paint.

So coat 1 went on just like usual. Using my favorite Purdy brush, I applied a light coat of this gorgeous color.

Then coat 2.

Two coats was just enough for most areas, but a few spots need three.

Done. Trish stressed that it wasn’t good to paint in the heat, but I was just fine since I was indoors, in the A/C – ideal conditions!

I wasn’t sure what the result of the chalk paint would be. I was guessing it would be chalky (obviously), but it’s not. Honestly, if I didn’t know it was chalk paint, I would think the paint was simply a latex… Until it dries. The finish on the dried chalk paint is very flat and dull. You can tell it is in need of something for a top coat. What is that something? Well, wax.

Why Use Wax?

Chalk Paint™ is very porous and the wax will penetrate the paint and literally fuse with it making it very strong. Waxing the paint provides protection. Chalk Paint™ in nature- is a very flat chalky finish and over time could be effected by oils from your skin, stains from beverages, dirty fingertips. They can permanently stain the paint. The wax finish is what seals and protects your piece. – The Purple Painted Lady

A day later, I jumped in and started the wax process. I’ve painted before, but have never applied wax. Not even car wax, so I was definitely entering unchartered territories. Again, I was nervous, but sucked it up and followed the steps (once again stated by Trish).

The wax is smooth, kind of like Crisco, and should be applied in “very thin, uniform coats”.

Remember this – VERY THIN, UNIFORM COATS

This is the basic process –

Start by taking a spoonful of wax.
Put it on a paper plate.
Dip the end bristles of your brush* into the wax.
Apply the wax in the same direction as the painted brush strokes

* The brush you choose is important. It CAN’T be a new brush and really should be a specific wax brush. I used a well-worn brush that was leftover from my fence project. I really should have used a true wax brush, but being the frugal gal that I am, decided not to get it with my purchase (probably a mistake). As I always ~~preach~~ suggest, the right tools make the job much easier. I guess I haven’t learned my own lesson yet…

FYI – These instructions are for applying clear wax only, not the dark wax. That has a whole set of different directions that I haven’t even looked at yet.

Trish at The Purple Painted Lady has an AMAZING Q + A on her website and every issue / problem that you may run into is on there. She gives a very thorough step-by-step of how to apply the wax, so it’s a MUST READ!

But of course, I ran into an issue. Here goes. I applied the wax, waited a few hours, but it still was tacky. I waited another 24 hours, but it was STILL tacky. What did I do wrong? I immediately sent an email to Trish and this was the subject line: Need HELP with wax! (that should get her attention, right?)

Like always, I heard back from her right away with a thorough explanation and she directed me right to her Q+A page. I scrolled down and found my answer.

Thankfully “my issue” is one of the most common… too much wax! I went over the wax with a cloth and a few days later, it was all dry and smooth to the touch.

Boy, what an experience, but I’m glad I stuck with it and learned from my mistakes. Trying something new always has it’s hurdles, but once you get over them, it’s often smooth sailing. I’m thrilled with the result of my newly reupholstered chair and every time I look at it, I have a chuckle about the days when I wanted to pull my hair out figuring out what I did wrong.

And here’s the finished result.

I’ve received quite a few questions on, “Is the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint worth the cost?”. It’s difficult to say depending on the look and style piece you want to achieve. With the bonus of no stripping, sanding, or priming, plus how much this paint covers compared to latex paint, it’s worth to give it a try! You may just fall in love…

Since I’m still a novice ASCP user, I’d LOVE to hear about your experiences with this magical formula. What issues have you had if any and how have you overcome them? Do you love the paint or don’t think it’s worth the cost? Please Share!

If you want to check out my reupholstery tutorial, click here. And if you’re interested in learning alot more about how to apply the chalk paint and wax, click here to visit Trish’s website.

DIY: Reupholstered Side Chair

Written by Jenna on August 8, 2012. Posted in DIY. 85 Comments on DIY: Reupholstered Side Chair

I’ve always had the desire to attempt the process of reupholstering a chair. Quite a few of my blogger friends did and the results were amazing, but I was still reluctant – Could I really do it?

After reading this post, for some reason, “it” clicked and I was on-board. My mission of finding a chair had started. I needed something new anyway for my desk since I’ve been using this chair which has no seat padding and gets uncomfortable after a while. It took some time, but one day when on a thrifting adventure with my mom, I spotted it and bells started to ring.

Let me start off by saying, I have no upholstery skills, so this is something that absolutely ANYONE can do. If I can do it, so can you! Don’t get me wrong, there were quite a few times that I wanted to give up, but I kept chug, chug, chugging along and I’m thrilled with the results of a comfortable, stylish, and inexpensive desk chair.

It all started off here…

I began by removing the fabric from the back of the chair. The old fabric was secured with ALOT of staples (which brought back memories of the carpet on the stairs), so using plyers I (and the mister) removed each and every one. It took a while and part of the surrounding wood on the chair got slightly damaged, but it ended up being fine since the new fabric and trim covered it later.

The seat upholstery I left since it was in fine condition and the new fabric would cover right over.

Once the fabric was stripped down, it was time to give this chair a paint makeover. Up until this point, I had never before tried the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and thought this would be the perfect piece. Because of the ASCP formula, there is no need to sand before painting and I was ALL FOR THAT! Holla…

I had some hurdles to overcome with the paint and wax, but all in all, I was happy with the result. My experience with the paint is a story in itself, which you’ll have to wait for later this week. (Click HERE to read about My First Annie Sloan Experience)

Anyway, here is me painting the chair…

Two coats later, I then added the clear wax as top coat.

Once that was done and dry (remember, I’ll chat more about my ASCP experience later this week), the reupholstery work began. I was psyched to start this part of the project. I chose a brown and white chevron pattern for the back panel, along with a burnt orange and white patterned fabric for the seat and back. The chevron fabric I had leftover from a pillow and table runner, while the orange fabric is a panel that I purchased from Target to use for this project and some new pillows (that I have yet to make – story of my life).

I started with the chevron fabric first and stapled it to the inside of the wood trim surround in place of where the previous fabric was. (this is a few from the front of the chair)

Once the fabric was stapled all around, this is how it looked from the back…

Then it was time to work on the seat and back reupholstery. I started with the back. I added back the original foam insert that was previously used, stapled all the way around, and finished by trimming the leftover fabric with scissors.

Then I used the same steps for the seat.

Once I exhausted out my staple gun, this was the result…

Eek! Those edges don’t look good. BUT WAIT… here’s how I fixed it.

Trim!

Trim is the key to ~~novice~~ upholstery perfection! Using a good ole’ hot glue gun, I added the trim surround to cover all the ragged edges of where I used the scissor to trim the fabric.

And minutes later, this was the result.

Beauty, right?

I am thrilled with the final upholstery project and glad that through some tough parts (mostly the removal of the old staples and fabric), I stuck with it. This chair really gives such a fun flair to my office area. The chair is temporarily in this spot while my front room / office space is under remodel.

And here’s me working away (thanks to my 6 yr. old for snapping this shot) …

Have you ever reupholstered a piece of furniture? Did you find the first time easier or more difficult than you thought? What DIY projects have you been working on lately?

Glass Bottle Turned Candle

Written by Jenna on July 19, 2012. Posted in DIY. 14 Comments on Glass Bottle Turned Candle

I’ve been working on so many big projects lately (like the stairs, painting, and this chair) that I wanted to take a quick break and create something super quick and easy to share with you. One of my favorite drinks, especially in the summer, is Saratoga Sparkling Water. Since I live in the town where this water is manufactured, it’s available most everywhere and everytime I see the gorgeous cobalt blue bottle, I just stare at it’s beauty.

I never get the nerve to throw the bottles away and have been stockpiling them in my garage waiting for a DIY project to pop into my head. And finally, here’s my first creation with the blue beauties…

Cute, right? And it’s uber-easy to make. Here’s how…

I started off with:

my used Saratoga Sparkling Water glass bottle with screw on top *
Lamp oil or citronella oil
Large Wicks (I found these replacement wicks for tiki torches at Target)
twine
hot glue gun
drill

* other glass bottles like wine bottles, spaghetti jars, mason jars, etc could also work to create this type of a candle. (check out the small Barefoot wine bottle in the pic below)

Once I was finished drinking my sparkly, I had the Mister drill a hole in the bottle cap (sorry no pic here because he did it while I was out n’ about). The hole should be slightly smaller than the wick so it fits snugly. Once the hole is drilled, the wick went in.

We then filled up the glass bottle with the lantern oil and tested out the new candle.

And it worked!

Then it was time to add some bling (nautical bling, not diamond bling). I love the Saratoga lettering, but decided to add some rope as an accent. I’m probably the only DIY blogger who hasn’t created something using rope, so here it goes.

Starting at the back of the bottle, I added a small dab of hot glue and attached the end of the rope.

I continued the rope around and around and around…

…and then once I was at the end, I trimmed the rope and added another dab of hot glue.

Complete and ready to enjoy!

And here are some details…

Pretty simple to create, right?!

Have you ever upcycled a glass bottle or wine bottle?

I link my projects to some of these parties: Skip to My Lou, Dittle Dattle, Between Naps on the Porch, Todayâ€™s Creative Blog, Stories of A to Z, All Things Heart & Home, Savvy Southern Style, House of Hepworths, Finding Fabulous, Creation Corner, The Shabby Nest, Tatertots and Jello, Thrifty Decor Chick, Tip Junkie

Two Toned Mirror with Faux Silver Leaf Detail

Written by Jenna on July 9, 2012. Posted in DIY. 2 Comments on Two Toned Mirror with Faux Silver Leaf Detail

Another summer week is underway. I can’t believe how fast it’s flying by, but I’m excited to be sharing a new DIY project with you – let’s get started…

Sometimes a small added detail truly makes a piece look completely new again. While updating the buffet in my dining room with the new lamps and sunburst mirror, I moved the dark wood mirror that was once over the mantel to this revamped area. I’ve had the mirror for about 9 years and it was beautiful, but I felt like it needed a little pick-me-up and decided adding a little something around the inner rim would be the perfect update.

The mirror has been seen in many of my mantel makeovers, like this one decorated for Spring 2012. Since it was in fine condition, I was weary about messing-it-up, but I took the leap of faith anyway. Silver leaf detail was the first thought that came to mind.

The addition of silver leaf, like in the dresser below by Jenny of Little Green Notebook, adds a beautiful and sophisticated accent, but since I was hesitant about how much detail would be appropriate for this mirror, I decided to use another method to get the silver leaf look, but make it totally faux.

Beautiful and I’d love to give silver leafing a try one day, but for my mirror, the faux way was alot easier and less time consuming.

Faux Silver Leaf

To achieve the silver leaf look, I used Krylon Spray Paint in Caramel Latte, which is the same color used for my lamp revamp – yes the lamps that now site right next to the mirror. LOVE this color. The cap shows it has more of a gold hue than silver, but the result on the mirror edge and the lamps is a more silver / gold combo.

Instead of the traditional way of using spray paint – is there a traditional way? – I, sprayed a small amount into the cap (in a ventilated space, of course)…

…then using a small paint sponge, I dipped the edge into the paint.

Then I lightly dabbed the sponge onto the leaf detail of the mirror edge. I went slowly at first not sure of how much would be appropriate.

Well, hello there camera lense staring at me 😉

After I knew the look I liked, then I continued around the entire mirror, and this is the result…

The edge detail around the mirror can be seen more now with the newly added faux silver leaf touch, and the mirror is updated enough to look like new. Within 5 minutes this mirror got a complete makeover and it was really easy! Hanging the mirror wasn’t difficult either with a method I’ve been using for years AND I’m going to spill the beans tomorrow – don’t miss it.

Have you ever used spray paint in a different or unconventional way? Have you ever updated a piece of furniture with silver leaf? It’s surely something I’d love to try!

Top Paint Picks for Navy Blue Walls

Written by Jenna on June 28, 2012. Posted in Color, Decorating. 16 Comments on Top Paint Picks for Navy Blue Walls

Yesterday I shared my Royal Blue Revelation and how I’ve been introducing this new-found hue into my home. I’m kinda psyched because not only is this color going to be an accent seen in accessories, but I plan on painting the front room a dark navy. Yesterday I left you at the point of me knee-deep in color decisions, and today I’m sharing the final color choice, plus my Top Color Picks for Navy Blue Walls.

I’ve always had a thing for black spaces – they’re bold, dramatic, and striking – but I’m loving the navy hue just as much (and maybe even better)! I’ve gathered some inspirational spaces that adorn the blue hue…

Deep blue striking walls with navy accents, photography by Emily Jenkins Followill.

Gorgeous Royal Blue Dining Room featured on House Beautiful.

Crisp white with navy blue is stunning. The white decor pops off the dark complementing color (source unknown).

Navy paneling on the walls gives this office/den a cottage look featured on Lonny Mag.

Dark royal blue walls surround this bedroom oasis and I adore the wide striped blue and white rug, photographed by Roger Davies Photography.

A laundry room that I would never leave. The white cabinets look amazing against the dark royal wall featured on House and Home.

Built-ins are often a shade of white (allowing them to pop off the wall), but the style displayed in this room match the walls – clever! Love the regal, but inviting aesthetic by Ashley Whittaker.

Hello Bedroom that I would love-to-live-in! There are so many reasons to adore this space by Brian Watford Interiors, but my favorite is the navy and white oversized nightstand, which is so sophisticated.

Thankfully I’m still in love with my taupe colored cabinets, otherwise this would be my new DIY project for summer. Could you do navy blue cabinets in your kitchen? (source unknown)

Incredible spaces to die for, right?! So finally the time comes to reveal the final paint choice for my room. The final color is…

photo by Julian Wass, image via House Beautiful

Boy, do I only wish I knew photoshop better to show you how this new blue hue would look in the room. Any volunteers to help me out? If not, no worries, it will be done soon enough (I hope)!

Do you like my color choice? What navy blue hue is your favorite?

Monogrammed Chevron Pallet Tray

Written by Jenna on June 12, 2012. Posted in DIY. 39 Comments on Monogrammed Chevron Pallet Tray

As a Blogger, finding support throughout the blogging community is important for blog growth, friendship, and creative inspiration. For the past several weeks, I’ve joined forces with a few fabulous DIY bloggers and we’ve been helping each other with various aspects of blogging. Along with our helpful “chats”, we were given a Blogging Challenge by Beckie of Infarrantly Creative to create a DIY project using specific materials – additional items could be added, but it was a must to use the required five.

What did I create you ask?

Well take a look… (and then keep on reading for the details)

Included in our Blogging 2 Better group was Monica & Jess of East Coast Creative, Allison of House of Hepworths, Brook of Being Brook, and Kim of Sand & Sisal – all incredibly talented and inspiring women and friends!

To begin, this is the list of items that we were required to use, and actually I pretty much just stuck to the list and didn’t use many additional items.

Fun, but definitely challenging! I was quite nervous at first trying to think about what to create with these 5 items and then it came to me… A tray that would be perfect to bring items in and out while BBQing (or even just to display on the coffee table – you know I love trays).

Once I had the idea, my project was quickly underway, especially since I already had a stash of pallets in my garage for a few other projects.

Item #1 – Pallet

To start off, I determined the size of the tray that I wanted to make (17″ x 17″), so the Mister and I measured (4) 17″ long pallet pieces.

Using the reciprocating saw, we buzzed right through that wood :-/

I’m always leary about using the BIG TOOLS (even though my friend Brittany has empowered me with the right skills), but I helped out and made a boo-boo when cutting. No problemo – the Mister came to the rescue with his Band Saw and cleaned the edges right up. In no time the (4) pieces of pallet were ready to make into a box.

Lining up the corners of the pallet planks, we hammered 2 nails into each corner.

Onto the bottom of the tray…

The only material used that wasn’t on the list was a piece of 1/8″ thick plywood that I used for the bottom of the tray. Once the pallet “frame” was made, we measured the distance to the outer edges and cut it using the Band Saw.

Once the plywood was cut to the right dimensions, we nailed it onto the bottom of the pallet “frame”.

I gave the overall tray a quick sanding, and within 20 minutes it was done!

Now onto the fun part… Using my second and third required items, fabric and Mod Podge, I lined the bottom of the tray with a brown and white chevron fabric.

To start off, I spread a nice coat of Mod Podge along the entire bottom of the tray.

Item #2 Mod Podge

Then I added the fabric onto the glue-y surface and made sure to get it nicely in the corners as well. Make sure the fabric size is larger than the surface because in the next step, I’ll show you how I trimmed it.

Item #3 – Fabric

Once the fabric was well stuck to the Mod Podge, it was time to trim the fabric (this can be done before the glue underneath is dry). Using a very sharp blade, I dragged it along the edge of the tray to trim the excess fabric.

Once the fabric was cut, I add a layer of Mod Podge OVER the fabric – no worries, it will dry clear!

Once the Mod Podge was dry (fully about 1 day later), it was time to add my last 2 items – the stencil and the color coral.

Using a new Word Doc, I found a font I liked (credit valley) and printed a large letter ‘B’ in lowercase for Burger (my last name). Then I cut it out with a scissor and traced the outline on the fabric.

Item #4 – Stencil

Then filled in the stencil with a beautiful color coral (it needed about 4 coats, but it didn’t take long).

Item #5 – Coral

And here it is all complete! My Blogging 2 Better Challenge was done and I was quite happy with the result. What do you think? Perfect for the indoors or out!

And you of course have to check out the other B2B Challenge Projects using the same materials. It’s truly amazing how they’re all SO DIFFERENT!

Rustic Industrial Storage Bins by Monica & Jess of East Coast Creative Blog

Dangle Earring Frame by Allison of House of Hepworths

Fabric Wall Art by Brook of Being Brook

Pallet Art Surfboard by Kim of Sand & Sisal

I’m sure you know all these ladies, but if not, you are REALLY missing out! Be sure to visit each of their great Challenge projects, as well as their daily DIY creations.

5 Minute Lamp Revamp with Spray Paint and Ribbon

Written by Jenna on June 8, 2012. Posted in DIY. 8 Comments on 5 Minute Lamp Revamp with Spray Paint and Ribbon

For a while, I was on the hunt for a pair of lamps for the dining room buffet. They couldn’t be overly large, but something that would be unique and add a soft glow. I had brought home a few options, but nothing was quite right. Then one day when randomly shopping at HomeGoods for another project, I spotted this treasure –>

It wasn’t perfect, but immediately I had an idea up my sleeve.

Could I ever just leave anything alone? NOPE!

My immediate idea was to spray paint the globe, but I wasn’t sure what color. Should the lamp be subtle or dramatic? Since the lamps were a nice piece of change (around $30 x 2), I thought a quieter color would “live” longer. So, I hit up my favorite spot at my favorite home improvement store and chose a taupe color with a hint of gold. Interesting, right?

The color name is Caramel Latte – sounds scrumptious (I must have missed my morning coffee that day and got my fix another way, hehe).

Before starting the exciting transformation, I covered all the areas of the lamp that I wanted to protect. So ONLY the basket-style globe was exposed and ready.

Now, I was armed and ready! I started off spraying my new fav color on the black globe area of the lamp. Nope, didn’t work.

I wanted it to be lighter, so instead I first spray painted the globe white (basically as a primer)…

…THEN applied the Caramel Latte Color. Yes, that’s what I wanted!

Perfection – DONE! well maybe not?

You know me… I can never leave well enough alone. I wanted to embellish the shades a little, so I decided to add two rows of ribbon in a taupe and burnt orange color.

Adding Ribbon to Embellish a Shade

At the lampshade seam, dab a small amount of hot glue on the shade and attach one end of the ribbon.
Wrap the ribbon around the entire shade (no need to glue all the way around). Trim the ribbon, fold over the edge so it doesn’t fray, and glue.
Complete!

In about 10 minutes (well, for me it was 20 because I had two), these lamps got a total makeover and are completely unique for my space!

I hope I’ve inspired you with my Lamp Revamp to think-outside-the-box and create or transform something in your home. Sometimes with a little spray paint and an idea, your options are limitless!

Outdoor Sculpture Made From Trash

Written by Jenna on June 4, 2012. Posted in DIY. 15 Comments on Outdoor Sculpture Made From Trash

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! It was a half rainy, half sunny weekend in my neck of the woods, so I took the opportunity to do some thrifting with my mom on Saturday and then some major DIYing on Sunday. I actually worked on about 6 different DIY projects and am super psyched to share some of them over the next week or two.

One project in particular is a new outdoor sculpture that now sits in my garden that I made using, well… trash. It’s kinda crazy, but I love it!

Before the cleanout began for the sideyard makeover (which I’ve mentioned here and there over the last few months), there was an old wood barrel planter sitting in the corner, falling apart, and in desperate need for the trash. When the time came for the barrel to hit the garbage, there was a DIY fairy that sat on my shoulder telling me to keep the corroded metal straps that once, long ago, kept the barrel together.

I had NO IDEA what I would do with them, but in the shed they went… for about two months… until the revelation hit me… How about making them into a sculpture?? Hmmm… That could work!

There was part of the garden on the sideyard that was bare and instead of planting more flowers, the vacant spot was perfect for my new-found idea.

How to Make the Trash Turned Sculpture

This sculpture took minutes to make – probably less than 10 minutes in all! Using a drill with a metal drill bit, the Mister and I worked together and drilled 2 holes in each ring. The holes were placed directly opposite of each other.

Once all the holes were drilled, we aligned the top and bottom holes of each ring. We secured the rings at the top with a nut and bolt, and for the bottom, we used a 6″ tent stake which went into the ground.

And that was it! I rotated the rings until the positioning was just right, and then sat back to admire this trash to treasure.

So what do you think? Pretty neat, right?
What treasures have you made from trash?

Staircase Makeover: Filling Holes and Staining Treads

Written by Jenna on June 1, 2012. Posted in DIY, Stair Makeover. 31 Comments on Staircase Makeover: Filling Holes and Staining Treads

It’s almost been 2 weeks since I posted about the stair makeover, but don’t think I haven’t been hard at work. The staining took quite a long time and not because it was difficult, but for another reason – keep on reading. Anyway, I can officially say that the staining is complete and I am at the half way point now (I hope).

This second phase of the staircase makeover covers sanding the stairs, filling the gazillion holes from the carpet tacks and staples, and staining the treads. So let’s jump right in and get started!

Project Details

Duration of Phase Two: 1.5 hours for sanding & filling holes; 2 overall hours for staining / polyurethane (5-10 minutes for each coat)
Phase 2 Difficulty: Easy to Medium
How Many People Needed: 1

The supplies I used for this phase of the project are:

Orbital Sander (sandpapering by hand is also possible, but will take longer)
Wood Filler (in a color to match the wood)
Stain – I used Minwax Wood Finish in Ebony
Polyurethane – I used Rustoleum (water-based) in a gloss finish
Cheap brush or sponge brush that can easily be thrown away
Mineral Spirits (if you don’t want to use a cheap brush and instead wash them)

In my last post on removing the carpet and prepping the stairs, I left you off with this…

Once the carpet tacks and staples were fully removed, it was time to sand the stairs.

As I mentioned above in the supply list, I used my orbital sander to get a really smooth finish and to take away marks and old paint drippings. Manually sanding the treads and risers with sandpaper is fine too, but will take longer and is more laborious – if you’re looking to build your arm muscles, this may be your calling 😉

Once the stairs were smooth, I used wood filler to fill in the many holes left from the carpet strip tacks and the carpet pad staples. There were also a few holes from the natural grain of the wood that I also filled in.

After the holes were filled and the wood filler was completely dried and hard 24+ hours later (it’s important that the wood filler is really dry!), I sanded again. The wood treads were ready for staining when the stairs were completely smooth to the touch.

Now to the staining process…

I don’t have alot of staining experience, and frankly staining has always scared me. Unlike painting, it seems so difficult, but thankfully I was proven wrong with this project.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was desiring a really dark stained tread for the stairs, so I chose to use an ebony finish. Before making the final decision though, I reached out to my blogging bud and the very talented DIYer, Kate of Centsational Girl. I had showcased her stair makeover as one of my inspirations, and wanted to know what she used for her dark tread. She told me that she used a product called Duraseal, which has a molasses-like consistency and gave a darker finish because it was less watery than typical stain. I couldn’t find the Duraseal and was anxious to get started on the staining, so I chose to use Minwax Wood Finish in ebony. It was the darkest color they had, so I was up for the task of trying it out. As an alternative, Kate gave me the advice of trying a gel stain which like the Duraseal has a thicker consistency. I’m a bad girl because I didn’t take her advice, BUT thankfully I’m happy with the result I achieved, so all is good 🙂

When staining, it’s key to apply thin coats of stain and angle the brush at a 45 degree angle to avoid bubbles. After cleaning the stairs with a rag to remove any remaining dust from the sanding, I was ready to get started. I used a cheap bristle brush to apply the stain, so I could easily throw it away after the stain applications.

Here are the few steps I took to stain the treads.

1. I started at the corner of the treads.

2. I feathered my brush towards the center, parallel to the wood grain.

3. Then I carefully dragged my brush along the edge of the tread and the stair stringer.

4.. After that I feathered the stain in the same direction of the grain again.

The reason for doing these steps is so the tread is thoroughly covered with stain AND minimal stain gets on the stringer (side piece). For my stairs, I will be painting the stringer white and using a stain blocker beforehand, BUT I was nervous (here comes my apprehension of using stain again) and didn’t want too much stain to get onto the stringer. Alittle nutty, I know… but it worked.

Continuing with the staining, I applied it to the remainder of the tread in the same direction as the wood grain.

Now that I shared the particulars on how to stain, let me tell you some more details…

The staining process took a while and the major reason was because we still needed to use the stairs. What to do?? Well, I ended up staining every other stair so we could still get up to the second floors. We did need to sleep, of course 😉

So… because I had to break the project up into two phases, it took longer. After applying the first coat of stain, it soaked right into the wood, and was dry within about 1-2 hours – there was absolutely no wiping away needed.

Then I applied a second coat of stain, which also soaked right in and took about 1-2 hours to completely dry. At this point, the stair had a really dull finish to it, but it still wasn’t dark enough for my taste.

So a day later, I added a third coat of stain and that was key!! It took a good day for it to completely dry, but I was happy. Then I was able to move on to the other stairs that were still raw.

The more coats you apply, the darker the result

Once the third coat of stain was complete, I sealed the stairs with Polyurethane. I had tested one small area using a semi-gloss finish, but it wasn’t right, so I decided on a gloss finish. It gave just enough sheen, but wasn’t overly glossy (if that makes sense).

Kate recommended applying 2-3 coats of polyurethane and this time I took her advice. After all my hard work, I wouldn’t want these stairs to get ruined!

The polyurethane that I used had a blue tinge when applied (which I freaked out about for only a few seconds), but quickly went away – thank goodness!

And that’s it for the staining process. This same process and techniques could also be used for furniture.

I got a few comments from readers after my last post that they enjoyed how thorough and explanatory my post was, so I tried to do the same with this – I hope you enjoyed it and learned something new. If you still have questions, let me know!

It’s really coming along and I’m excitedly anxious to start the next process… painting the risers, banister, baluster, and stringer! Until next time…