Looky what I got in the mail today...

As I drove up the driveway today, my excitement was building...I saw a huge box outside the
front door... could it be? Even my Cisco got in on the action. He was dying to know too. Yes! It was my winnings from Kimba's Holiday Open House Giveaway! That is Kimba from A Soft Place to land, go check her out after reading my post she is so much fun and so very crafty!


She took great care in packing my gift. Carefully wrapped in brown paper and bubble wrap, I unwrapped for a while!

How proud and excited I am to have this great magnetic memo board. Complete with handmade magnets. And...that Kimba is so sweet that she even threw in (as a surprise) one of her adorable pins!





My kitchen coordinates perfectly with this swanky little memo board, but it is just a tad too tall to fit under my cabinets, where I had it pegged to live. My bathroom has a few empty walls, so it is perfect for the wall beside the door. I am always taping notes to my bathroom mirror, so as not to forget things in the morning rush so... now, my nifty board is a life saver!


Thanks again Kimba, and like my favorite new necklace says..."enjoy the little things"!

A Peek into the Master Bath

My cousin Kathy has been on me to show my bathroom on the blog, so here we go...

Step into my master bathroom. Yes, I know, still needs window treatments, the ceiling is so white, I have a plain ol' standard mirror, and no knobs on the cabinets. But, I did hang this really cool drape to try to conceal my shower caddy full of green shampoo bottles. The ceiling is so high in this bathroom that it really need some cozying up. I had this long piece of fabric from our first house. It draped and swagged (back when that was cool) over the front window. Now, it has a new life in my bathroom. It is not lined, not really worried about it getting wet, it just keeps it smooth if it gets splashed then steamed up a little.

The pole is also from the old house, just doctored it up with paint. The pole is hung from wooden closet rod brackets. Very inexpensive and can be found at any hardware store. My shower doors were very cold and generic and needed some warmth. Adding drapes brought some much needed color to this room. This project only happened because I already had the fabric. The curtain is hung 10 feet high, that's a lot a fabric and it could have been a very pricey project. You could get the same look with burlap (WalMart for $2.00 a yard) and a little fringe. Of course, if I had one of The Nester's tassels this look would be EVEN better!



Love my red fabric, not sure of the maker, but the name is Queensland. Been around for quite a while now. Not sure if it is sold anymore, but I have lots around this house. The other drape/swag thing is now a table skirt for my round end table in the family room. I couldn't bear to cut the long fabric so it is just tucked under the table and pulled out just enough to touch the floor.




The above picture is of my naked window. I do have a set of panels of the same red with a band of red gingham at the top. They just need a little mistreating (like The Nester says). I need to make them longer and to add some fringe, out of the box o' scraps. Stay tuned for that on a future post. Hobby Lobby has the knobs I want for the cabinets, and if I am patient and wait until they are half off, I can get them for $3 buck each! The knobs are crackled cream ceramic and metal. GORGEOUS! For the drawers I want the long metal knobs, I want them now.

LOVE my free-standing column! It was given to me by a vendor when I worked at John Wieland years ago. For now, I am afraid to have it anywhere else in the house until the guys are older. It is incredibly heavy and I can imagine it taking out a few windows, and really hurting someone. It needs a good aging technique...again, another post.

This is the plain side of the bathroom. It needs color, love and attention. A great architectural piece would be awesome over the naked mirror. Still waiting on those knobs...

One day I may paint the shorter walls in the bathroom, the others are just too tall for me or my husband to tackle. I am not a fan of tall ladders. So here is one last picture for you... just a bit closer.

Be bold. Take a risk. Do something different in your house. Then get online and show it off!

Thank you cousin Kathy in Orlando for making me post my bathroom. It gave me incentive to fix the hooks holding my red towels that have been down for six months. Finally got the right hardware and they are not coming down for another twenty years.

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my blog. Keep coming back for more!

~Misti

To Be or Not To Be...A Bench

A few weeks ago, I finally had a few minutes to stop into our newest Goodwill shop. So many times I wanted to go in, but didn't for one reason or another. Luckily, I picked a great day to stop by. There were so many great pieces of furniture that particular day, but this one really spoke to me. It is a twin headboard and footboard set, and was a steal at only $13 bucks! They told me that I had to take the rails and I really did not want them, but now I am so glad that I kept them. They are solid wood!

My first thought was a bench. Then, I thought, this could be two separate benches! My vision was a cream-colored bench upholstered with burlap and nailhead trim, then my vision went to black paint. I can't make up my mind! One bench or two, cream or black, to upholster or not to upholster...

This little beauty has great details! I love the circles, they remind me of a wedding ring quilt, and the very top arches inward, making it very unique. It does not have a maker's name on it, but it is very nice. Even the footboard has extra details that would really shine as a bench. If I choose to paint it cream with a glazed finish, the glaze would fall into the crevices and really make it look great. If I go with black the round metal accents would stand out even more. Decisions, decisions. The footboard could be used as the front of the bench or I could build it out with different legs and use the footboard for a smaller child-sized bench.

Tell me what you think- leave comments and give me your ideas for this piece, even if you don't see it as a bench. I had to have it, now just have to decide what to do with it. Oh, and I have to decide whether to keep it or sell it! Maybe I will put it up for sale, and if I have no takers then I can keep it! Sounds like a plan to me...

Comments please!

Thanks for your advice
~Misti

Edit: Go check out Layla's place to see her awesome ideas for my bargain, piece...she is so cool!

Just a little something I painted...

Over at Hooked on Houses they want to know what we are hooked on... I am hooked on painting EVERYTHING!

Painting, as I have said before, is one of my favorite hobbies. My client had always wanted a grand and magical playroom for her daughter so we came up with a room that all the girls in her neighborhood would want to hang out in. Madison's bonus room is very large with light filling dorm windows and tons of space. We made the corner nook like a cafe complete with a princess frog in the bird bath. The chalkboard was painted directly on the wall. I simply measured, drew a straight line with a yard stick and a level, then taped it off with painter's tape. After 2 coats and a pink weathered frame painted around the edge it was perfect. We later added paper lanterns for nighttime effect.

We decided to keep it a rustic cottage feel, in keeping with the distressed furniture that was already in the room. This extra-large bulletin/memo board needed just the right friend to show it off. The bird, which is mimicking Mary Engelbreit's birds, is holding an envelope in it's beak. The armoire holds video games and movies, loads of coloring books, crayons and craft supplies.


Paint a simple welcome sign for your child's room. They will love to show their friends!

Here, we used another code door for a gateway to her imagination. Don't be afraid of paint, it can be changed so easily. I really had to do some convincing to Madison's dad to paint these doors, but how boring would it have been to leave them white?

Before I finished the client asked if I could do the brick work in the cafe area to make it look a bit more realistic. The effect is very cool, they look real!


This room turned out beautifully! I really should have taken more pictures, but, the cafe awnings got put on hold and the furniture wasn't exactly what we wanted, but we did put together the cutest mailbox for Madison. We bought a low green metal bucket, filled it with concrete, and added a real wooden mailbox post with a pink metal mailbox, and filled the bottom with foam and faux flowers. It was the perfect way to finish this room and she loves getting mail from her mother and little brother during the day.

Thanks for visiting, now head on over to Hooked on Houses to tell about what you are hooked on.

Recipe: Make your own Chalkboard Paint

For some reason, blogger will not let me fix my post. Here is the correct link to the recipe:
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/make-custom-color-chalkboard-paint

Thanks!

A Recipe: Make your own Chalkboard Paint

Last year one of my clients wanted to design her son's room to keep him busy. He is a very busy little guy and needed something to entertain him in his new room. After thinking long and hard I decided to paint his entire room as a chalkboard, not your everyday chalkboard though... I found a recipe on Martha Stewart's site on how to make your own chalkboard paint. ANY COLOR? Yes, by mixing unsanded tile grout with your paint color! For this little guys room we painted all of the bottom grassy green, then added a road, complete with yellow divider lines, we added trees, a pond and boat, airplane with a banner, a helicopter and a cityscape with Spidey on top, he just really wanted that... So, we mixed and painted, mixed more and painted more until the entire room was covered in chalkboard paint. Several colors of chalkboard paint. We hung metal buckets on the walls for his chalk and the little man was able to draw until he fell asleep! Unfortunately, all of my pictures were very dark, so you will have to use your imagination. One day I will have to get back over there and take more shots to share with you. For now, I have included the link to Martha's website for your viewing pleasure. Have fun, and please send me pictures if you make any chalkboards!

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/make-custom-color-chalkboard-paint
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/make-custom-color-chalkboard-paint

Paint Fanatic: More paint redo's

Painting is one of my very favorite hobbies. Instead of discarding old decor that doesn't quite "go" anymore, I just reinvent it with paint. The possibilities are endless! The above mirror was a hostess gift from Southern Living at Home. It came to me white, as many of you know, I have seen it in your pictures here in blogland.This was totally experimental... I actually painted this black first, it was too harsh so I rubbed on a dry gold metal paint with a rag and it came out beautifully!

Then there is my table, the 1990's white with butcher block top got several coats of black oil-based paint to stand up to all the eating going on in this house.

My favorite bench was an oak stain. I was able to sand off just enough of the black to show it's original color underneath.
And...an old plastic tray, who even knows where this came from? When I found it in some old boxes, it was gold with a cherub on it. It too got a new life sitting atop my cabinets.
Don't let aged decor go unnoticed. Jazz it up, give it a new life with paint!

~Misti

Not your average Coffee Table

When my new Pottery Barn catalog arrived this week I couldn't wait to tear into it! I am always drawn to the coffee tables and the endless possibilities on how to accessorize the beauties. You will not find one in my house because the boys aren't ready to part with half of the family room just yet. One day, just one day I am going to find the perfect table. I would like an over-sized coffee table, possibly a dining table cut down to sit a little lower. Always on the prowl for a great piece of furniture. So don't settle for a run-of-the-mill, every neighbor has the same one, kind of coffee table. I have left you with a bit of eye candy to inspire you to find something different.

How about a gorgeous trunk-old or new.

An over sized leather ottoman- multi-talented, it holds accessories or feet!

This cane topped bench is multi-functional too.

Ahhh...a rustic old table-this is my favorite.

Remember, you don't have to have the same old furniture your mother had. Think out of the box and find something different for your home. Stand out from the crowd, and let your personality shine through in your furnishings and in everything you do!
~Misti

Photos: Pottery Barn

Gel Stain: Everyone should have some.

Say hello to my little friend...
This tiny little can of gel stain can transform so many things! All you need to get started is something to open the can with, and an old t-shirt, well... and something that needs transforming.

I like a rustic look, not into white at all. Anything too white in this house gets hit with a little stain. Using a gel stain just makes the job easier and a little less messy. The formula is very thick and jelly-ish making it easy to rub over any paint or surface. You do have to work fast and start sparingly. I normally wipe on a small amount then wipe it away until I get the desired amount on the project. The gel dries much faster than normal stain, so be sure to wipe or brush in the direction of the wood grain (if painting on wood), and always move in one direction, never circles! I have samples photos of just a few of my transformations. Unfortunately, I do not have before pictures, these are all old projects. Please leave comments and tell me what you would use gel stain for in your house. Here we go...

This pretty little table, believe it or not, used to be a pink shade of white wash. Very 1990's. I found this piece at a model home sale for $40. Some may say that is a lot for this tiny table, BUT this is a Lexington! The hardware is gorgeous, and the details were perfect to use my trusty gel stain. I simply spray painted a bayberry green shade, let it dry, then proceeded to rub on the gel stain in the nooks and crannies. This little beauty was a super simple redo!

Here we have my foyer mirror, I would love to have some huge grand mirror, but, using what I have is the theme for now. When purchased (back in 1998) it was the color of the moment~ Hunter Green. I purchased a can of Colonial Red spray paint, which is great all on it's own, but then I gelled it up a bit 'cause I'm addicted to the stuff. It just deepens the color and adds character. This picture is kind of busy with the reflection of the staircase, but check out my Hobby Lobby metal artwork, it was a steal at $25, half off!


Even this plant pot got a touch of the gel stain. It was way too white for my taste. What can I say, I was gellin!






One day I noticed how worn our brand new walls were in the kitchen and decided to make them look well-loved instead. I added bead board to the main traffic areas painted the bead board and the trim the same color as the walls then added the gel stain to give it a distressed look. The purpose of painting the top and bottom the same color was to maintain the size of the room. If I were to have broken up the colors, the room would have looked very busy, and smaller. Having the room one color is more calming and keeps the focus on the artwork and black accessories. Using this particular wall treatment in a high-traffic area makes life so much easier!

And last but not least... my front door.

When we bought our home, the front door and shutters were dark espresso brown. The shutters still are, but I have to have my red front door. I told my husband long before we moved in that I was going to have a RED door! We found a rustic red and you know what came next? Yep, you guessed it, the gel. I went over it twice to give it some protection from the elements.

Comment on this post and let me know what project in your home could use a little gellin!

~Misti

Newer Blog Button!

Love my new blog button!
I tried the old one, it was my design, but, wasn't "ME".

I needed color in my button...
So thanks once again to Southern Girl Blog Designs

This one really works for me!

If you would like to grab my button for your place just copy the code under the button on the right margin. Thanks!

~Misti

Step Inside my Kitchen: My favorite place in the house

Happy 2009! We made it through the holidays and now new years day has come and gone too. My how time flies when you're having fun! I promised this year to show you around my house and now that I have things back in order around here I thought we could peek into my kitchen.

The kitchen is very bright and cheery, except for the dark cabinets, but I was going for low maintenance when I picked everything out this time around. Being the frugal person that I am I tried to make the kitchen practical and pretty while not spending a fortune. For the windows I wanted something functional, did not want blinds, I try not to have blinds unless absolutely necessary. Instead I opted for inexpensive panels from Target. We can pull them closed at night and they sit just off the floor so the broom doesn't get them all yucky. In any other room I would have the drapes lined, but I wanted the kitchen filled with light everyday.

The black table and chairs used to be the typical 1990's white with butcher block top and chair seats until it got several coats of black oil-based paint and mounds of polyurethane. The bench was given to me from Mom, I grew up sitting at this bench with two of my four brothers. Now, as much as I love the black I do NOT suggest anyone doing this! I would love to sand this guy down and stain it or paint it cream with a gel stain finish. Only the table top, that is... I love the black base for it's low-maintenance factor, same goes for the chairs, LOW MAINTENANCE is a good thing. Had to have shades for my light fixture and found these beaded cream colored shades for $5 bucks each at Target. All of my accessories are always super cheap clearance finds at Michael's, HomeGoods, Hobby Lobby or some of my wholesale shops. My very favorite thing in the kitchen is my black cabinet. One of my larger painting orders paid for this baby. It gets decorated for every season, and the black backdrop makes everything look better. The funky silverware artwork is a Hobby Lobby find (for half price of course) I think I only paid $25 for all three. I wanted something without lots of color, so it would not compete with whatever I have displayed on the black cabinet. You know, I could really use one of the Nester's awesome tassels for the knob, but the dog would eat it, I am sure. The other door you see in the corner is the laundry room, we won't go there! Not much to see there anyway...

My handy little wooden toolbox is
another favorite. It used to be a pine stain, but I had to doctor it up a bit with a can of colonial red spray paint and and my gel stain. Lots of things get painted around here, we'll leave that for another post. The toolbox is great for holding my favorite cookbooks close by and my most-used utensils. Wood would look better, but until I buy more I just use my old black ones. The dog treats stay on the counter too. I love the vintage (looking) glass jar for Cisco's treats, easy for the kids to open too. And one final picture from the table side of the kitchen, not pretty as you can see the white fridge that sticks out like a sore thumb and my very cluttered kitchen desk to the right. We like to let the kids cover the ugly fridge with lots of artwork until I can paint it or get a new stainless steel one. I have considered covering it with chalkboard paint, but the practical side of me is thinking, MESSY!
Through the doorway you can see a glimpse of my red wall on the stairs, again, a post for another day. Over the cabinet there is a tray that I painted, you guessed it black, and wrote "PLEASE SIT". My little red lamp in the corner is always on, since I do not have under counter lighting. Please do not look too closely at the toaster oven, the one and only thing my husband HAS to have. And there you have it... my favorite room in the England house.

Soon I will be posting on my other creative side, painted artwork and knobs. Check back often and feel free to leave comments!

~Misti