Spray Painted Deco – Love My DIY Home

Create an Inviting Office Space

Since I spend 99% of my time in my home, I LIVE in my home. It’s what I see when I wake up, work, play, relax, cook, eat – you get the idea. It’s my sanctuary. It’s my castle. It’s where I AM all the time. It was especially true this past year. Don’t get me started… We have transformed nearly every room in our 4-level home, implementing significant upgrades with the assistance of a reliable service such as gresham heating and cooling. Beyond interior renovations, we’ve also dedicated efforts to enhance the exterior. This property and its surroundings were initially a chaotic mess, presenting us with the challenge of truly making it our own. Our top level has two master bedroom suites, and an office (have a peek at this web-site to find the best office spaces around your locality). It was originally 4 bedrooms, but you know, I … Read more

10 Steps to Revive an Old Nightstand

They Are Everywhere You’ve seen them. Junky pieces of furniture that no one wants. They are priced for pennies compared to the new pieces you find in retail stores. Do you pass them by? “Jillian” The Nightstand She was ugly. She was dirty. She was smelly and sitting in a garage stuffed with junk. All she needed was someone to take her home. For those of you who know our DD, Jillian, this piece was named after her because we were together when we found her, and we painted this one together…not because they looked or smelled similar. VBG Supplies (Affiliate Links for Your Convenience) Krud Kutter Zinsser’s Spray Primer Rustoleum 2x Painter’s Touch spray paint Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan Polyvine Dead Flat Wax Varnish 3M Sanding Sponge Her Steps Toward Beauty 1. Clean her up – she needed a good scrubbing. We sat her outside to air out … Read more

Garage Sale Sconce Update {Love My DIY Home}

Wall Sconce Update – Trash to Treasure

Do you like Primitive, Old World, Rustic, or Farmhouse? Is antiqued, glazed, layered, dry brushed and/or distressed your preference? Do you go for Shabby Chic, Retro, Modern or Traditional? Honestly, I do shake my head at some of the furniture pieces I see showcased on some of my Facebook furniture groups. Some are gawdy, but bring in comments like, “I love it!” Others that are posted as “after” can be mistaken for “before” in my minds eye. But different strokes for different folks, I suppose. While some say, “NEVER paint wood,” others say, “Plain wood is boring and I need to paint to be happy!” Regardless of your preferences, you can pick up a piece of furniture or decor and make it your own. You can drastically change it or lightly modify it. Example: I picked up this sconce last summer and thought it was a bit too rustic for … Read more

Old Tissue Box Revived – Spray Paint Season is Here!

I first wrote this in the beginning of 2015, and the technique has become quite popular, so I’m playing it again, Sam… Another consignment shop find has found itself at the end of my spray paint can. I do enjoy spray painting – it’s quick and requires no top coat. It doesn’t fit every scenario, but once in a while it’s the best choice. Spray paint season is once upon us and so let the games begin… While dropping off STUFF…you know that STUFF that sat in your basement for years wondering if they’d ever turn into a “real piece of decor,” I found this cool little tissue box holder slathered in hand painted foofy flowers. Not really my style, but I could picture it painted. E.A.S.I.L.Y. I had done something similar to what was floating around in my head on an antique table for … Read more

Wicker File Cabinet Re-purposed to a Paint Cart

Here is a quick example of how you can re-purpose those garage sale finds inexpensively and easily. No muss. No fuss. Just a can of spray paint, black glaze and a sponge paint brush turned this wicker file cabinet into something useful. Wicker isn’t very popular any more and you will find wicker everything out in garage sales for just a dollar or two. I bought this one at a garage sale for $2 this summer. STEP #1 Spray with Rustoleum Painters Touch spray paint. Pick a color, any color. STEP #2 Dab, wipe or brush on glaze – all over, including the metal bars. I used Wise Owl black glaze using a sponge brush. You can use a regular sponge, brush or even a paper towel. Just use what you have on hand. No need to be particular, just have at it! I took about 30 seconds to brush … Read more

Baker’s Rack Becomes a French Beauty

Short and Sweet I’m popping in here to show you a little project I just finished – you can find similar “before” pieces around and about as people often sell these at garage sales and second hand shops. Most people think that if you want to upgrade you must get rid of the old and buy new. Not true. Here is a BEFORE picture of her when she was just plain “Rachel”: “Rachelle” began her life as “Rachel,” an average nondescript baker’s rack. But she was renamed the French beauty, Rachelle after her amazing transformation. I am always in awe when I see the after affects of a little paint and some TLC. Simple Update – Big Change After updating her with Rustoleum Espresso 2X Painter’s Touch spray paint, a satin clear spray topcoat also by Rustoleum on the metal body and French hand stenciling, with Zar oil based … Read more

Guest Master Bedroom – Before and After

Have you ever seen before and afters that seemed too expensive to duplicate? I have. Too often we look at what others do and decide we could never do it ourselves and hire contractors like www.skilledhomerenovations.ca. It only took 3 1/2 years, but we finally did it. And we did it within our budget, in our own time, in our own way. You can too. What room do you want to flip? Our green carpeted gold sponge painted master bedroom is finally a hotel quality guest room. This was the original master bedroom, but we decided to keep it for guests. We took the other side of the top level and plan to renovate it into a master suite – some day. We kept the green carpet for quite a while because of the expense of new, but we did at least paint the walls before we moved … Read more

Antique Night Stand Re-do

What’s hiding in your basement? A couple of years ago I gave our daughter, Jillian, a night stand that had been a family heirloom from my husband Mark’s aunt, Aunt Emily. She had painted it white, but wasn’t happy with the results. I had a 2 1/2 week stay in Virginia with Jillian where we spent a week decorating her living room/dining room at her new place. This is one of the pieces we hauled out of her basement to try to salvage. Newly married, in school, and on a tight budget, this had to be another “use what you have to save money but it’s gotta look good” project – right up my alley! Spray paint is an easy and cheap fix. The dark stain shows right through and the paint peeled right off where it had bubbled. We honestly didn’t know if we could fix it, but … Read more

From Trash to Treasure – Update old brass decor, don’t toss it!

I told you about the cast off treasures I got from a friend in my first From Trash to Treasure post here. Here are brass pieces that NO ONE wants. After painting the brass finishes with my dark walnut satin Rust-Oleum spraypaint, I decided to mix and match the parts to make new pieces. Brass decor isn’t very popular these days, but there is no reason we can’t update. When I painted this one, (pic above) the paint didn’t settle in the grooves, giving it dimension. (It’s OK to go ahead and think I planned this.) I put the painted brass on my kitchen island to dry in the warm kitchen (negative 10 degrees in my garage where I painted it). Each time I passed by them, I thought about how they would look once I put them together. I don’t wait very patiently for my projects to … Read more

DIY Chunky Photo Frame – Re-purpose Old Picture Frames Part 3

I have picture frames up the wazoo! Seriously, I must have more than three or four dozen wood frames packed in boxes… In the garage, In the basement, In my craft closet, In my blanket chest… Nope. There aren’t any blankets in it. Just picture frames. Some day I will paint that blanket chest with chalk paint and actually use it for blankets. When you raise 15 kids like we did and tote a camera around with you 24/7, your house easily turns into a virtual scrapbook. Now we are empty nesters (yay for us!) and have downsized. So I have to justify keeping all my frames and not just “Give them all away to Goodwill to be rid of them.” (That solution was courtesy of my DH.) I’ve been on a mission to justify my frame hoarding and have come up with some re-purposing DIY projects. I’m in process … Read more