tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2164424051429888812024-03-12T21:41:19.281-04:00Bluegrass PearlsThoughtful . Inexpensive . DesignAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-91462127159761592892015-01-31T22:25:00.001-05:002015-01-31T22:27:03.152-05:00Kitchen Refresh for LessHello. My name is Lori and I am a very bad blogger! It has been over a year since I have posted on this site so let me give you some life updates and excuses for my absence.<br />
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Mr H and I moved from Cincinnati to my hometown of Lexington (KY) last fall for me to start Physician Assistant school. Anyone that knows me, knows that I have been passionate about (more like obsessed with) medicine for as long as I can remember. I have always felt called to the medical field and for me, I always assumed that meant attending medical school. After college, however, my path took a turn towards research. I worked in medical and clinical outcomes research at both the University of Kentucky and Cincinnati Children's Hospital for a few years until my hunger for a more clinical role could no longer be stifled. Last fall my path was redirected and while I never imagined that my role in medicine would be as a physician assistant, I could not be happier with my path. It is an incredible feeling to feel like you are exactly in the place where you are intended to be. Enough with the personal statement, let's move on to DIYs and decor.<br />
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When Mr H and I found out that we were moving, we quickly snatched up a townhome in the Bluegrass and began painting and doing some updates before officially moving down. We chose to rent for the duration of my program but we are truly chomping at the bit to hurry up and buy our dream home to do more permanent updates and projects. While we have literally repainted every room in our townhome, all of the sweat, spilled paint and ruined clothes have been well worth it. Enough talk, let's get to the pictures . . .<br />
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One of the major barriers to renting, is making modern updates that provide impact without being permanent. In this post, and posts to come, I hope to show renters and those with a small budget, how to refresh a room for less. So, let's take a look at our kitchen refresh. <br />
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The kitchen was decent and functional when we moved in so while there were several things that I wanted to change such as the paint color, it was not very high on the priority list. Within the last month we have finally transformed it into a kitchen where I am much happier to cook and do the dishes . . . ok, maybe not <i>much happier</i> to do dishes ;)<br />
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The first thing we tackled was the paint. I'm not sure if you can tell from the photo above, but the original paint color in this room was a muted beigy-orange. It was a golden color that all in all wasn't as horrendous as the Carolina blue that was throughout the place (nightmares of Carolina blue) but just wasn't my style or the look I wanted for the kitchen. <br />
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For the the first step in this kitchen refresh, we painted the walls Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore.<br />
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The lighting is clearly better in this "After" photo versus the "Before" but man what a clean coat of paint does to a room! We painted several rooms in our townhome Revere Pewter and I couldn't be happier with this paint color. It is the perfect "greige". It's not too cool like a lot of grays on the market and it's not too warm and buttery like a lot of other beiges. The perfect marriage of the two makes the perfect neutral.<br />
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The next step was to make a window covering. I followed the lead of many DIYers on the blogosphere and made a no-sew, faux roman shade. Yes, you heard that right-no sew. On my long list of to-do's in life, is learning how to use a sewing machine. My mom is fantastic and has made many pillow covers and drapes for me over the years but I unfortunately lack that skill. To make this faux roman shade, I bought fabric from Hobby Lobby and pulled out my handy dandy hot glue gun.<br />
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I measured the length and width that I desired for our window size, allowing enough fabric for a one inch seam on the left, right and bottom edges. I ironed these edges to make a good crease and hot glued the seams. On the top, I folded over about 2 inches to allow my curtain rod to pass through. I ironed to get a crease and hot glued the top down, as well. The last step was to pinch the fabric on the sides to make some decorative pleats.<br />
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It may not be perfect, but I'm pretty happy with the result and the fact that it literally took about 15 minutes to make.<br />
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One of the easiest, impactful changes to make in a kitchen or bathroom, is the cabinet hardware. We have changed the hardware in every bathroom in our townhome and it has completely updated and upgraded the look of the room. The best thing is, if you keep the original hardware stored away, you can just remove and take your new pulls and knobs with you when you move.<br />
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Due to the number of new pulls that would be needed for this space, I opted to update the pulls with paint.<br />
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While the shape of these pulls is not exactly my style, after spray painting them gold, they breathe new life into the room. I love mixing metals and finishes in a room. Don't feel boxed into using the same finish (chrome, polished nickel, etc) throughout a room. Mixed finishes actually give a room a very collected and complete feel.<br />
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Trays are great decorative items for collecting and organizing small items into a larger grouping (as seen above). For more visual interest, vary the height of the items on the tray.<br />
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Now for the elephant in the room. The biggest non-permanent update with the biggest impact in this kitchen (and in most kitchens I would argue) is that lovely piece of jewelry sitting just south of the window sill.<br />
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No, not that one above. The one, here, below.<br />
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I think it goes without saying just how foul and uninspiring the original, and by original I mean original to this older townhome, that first faucet is. The new faucet is a serious game-changer in this kitchen. In his first dabble in plumbing and faucet exchange, Mr H seriously impressed with his installation of this beauty. Not to downplay his abilities whatsoever, but exchanging faucets is a fairly easy task for even the newest of DIYers. <br />
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Isn't she just like the perfect statement necklace. The lines, curves and vintage feel of this faucet truly makes my heart smile.<br />
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We exchanged several of the bathroom faucets before moving in and the new faucets really transformed those rooms just like here in the kitchen. I'm only sad that I hadn't replaced the faucet in the kitchen sooner. <br />
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In summary, in kitchens, much like bathrooms, updating these three things will make a major impact in the look of the space while proving to be not so permanent that it's impractical:<br />
1. Paint<br />
2. Cabinetry hardware-pulls, knobs<br />
3. Faucet<br />
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Now for the cost breakdown on this kitchen refresh:<br />
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<b>Wall paint</b>: Revere Pewter (BM)- $0 - leftovers from previous paint jobs<br />
<b>Spray paint (cabinet pulls)</b>: Rustoleum Metallic Gold- $0 - from my stash<br />
<b>Faucet</b>: Overstock- $80 (on sale 60% off!)<br />
<b>Fabric for Roman Shade</b>: Hobby Lobby - $10<br />
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This refresh was completed for a grand total of <b>$90</b>.<br />
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My hope is that this post inspires renters and those looking for
non-permanent, inexpensive, ideas on ways to update and refresh a tired
space. While I would love to rip out the countertops and replace them
with Super White Quartzite, and replace the sink with a white farmhouse style, that is neither practical nor realistic for
our current season of life.<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s1600/signature.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-64510807928683281482013-09-08T17:46:00.000-04:002013-09-08T17:46:47.132-04:00{DIY} China Cabinet<br />
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Well, hello there. My name is Lori and I. am. a. bad. blogger! I apologize for the blogging hiatus. Mr H and I have had an extremely busy summer working on some personal "projects" that I promise to divulge when the timing is right (no mom, we are not pregnant :) ). With that being said, I've luckily had some time to get a few DIY projects completed which I promise to share with you in the next few days/weeks. </div>
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Today's project evolved from Mr H and I not having anywhere to store and display our lovely wedding china and other dishes. I had specific dimensions and desires for a piece of furniture to house these dishes that I could not find after weeks of searching and scouring Craigslist. I became inpatient and really anxious to get our china out of their boxes, so I employed my secret little weapon I keep in my pocket . . .my dad! <br />
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My dad is an amazing craftsman and carpenter. He has designed and built so many decorative and furniture pieces for me over the years. After giving him the specific dimensions that I envisioned for the piece, he went to work and created and built a china cabinet that is more beautiful than I ever envisioned. I wasn't with him when he constructed the piece so I can't show you the specifics and details of how he built it. But Lord have mercy, he has done it again:<br />
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I decided early on that I wanted the shelves of the cabinet to be glass. IKEA is a great source for glass shelves of different sizes. Mr H and I made a trip to IKEA and picked up 3 of the Billy 30" x 10" glass shelves at $10 each. Dad built the reinforced ledge for the glass shelf around the 2 sides and back of the cabinet. <br />
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Just look at the detail around the top:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintZeyQ-EUizo6IzJJBsnSw1ufYPdWfAaoo9PKG9d-99Myfq9Qj_VfY6PEbnDoJg2SIbEELzE4MFWjs8Dpe-Lg6feAmDtKr5y5hOGXE0YXlc9EuEL8CQZO1DLraAa2_3BEYEGC7iDXdjU/s1600/DSC00510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintZeyQ-EUizo6IzJJBsnSw1ufYPdWfAaoo9PKG9d-99Myfq9Qj_VfY6PEbnDoJg2SIbEELzE4MFWjs8Dpe-Lg6feAmDtKr5y5hOGXE0YXlc9EuEL8CQZO1DLraAa2_3BEYEGC7iDXdjU/s640/DSC00510.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also knew that I wanted to paint the piece a darkish, moody gray. After looking at lots and lots of images on the internet, I finally decided on "Down Pipe" by Farrow & Ball. Here are some images of the paint color:<br />
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<img height="331" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" width="400" /><br />
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<img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/Blog-Isabella-Favaro-AyA-Kitchens-Baths-Reno-bookcase-stickley-IMG_4551.jpg" /><br />
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via <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-direction-for-kitchen.html">http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-direction-for-kitchen.html</a></div>
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We hopped on over to Home Depot and had them color match the paint into Behr's primer + paint in one (such a great product!). After 1 coat and some touch-ups I allowed the cabinet to dry for about 24 hours before inserting the glass shelves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2cn2c3010KgdPm0LFbjCJJHHhh9HSENrfIcuJsNkoa8-5XrRFmh9qcEnmQ1XGjh9TGiZGM0P1zOBmhB26gNx26bVV2s36NsUFch0iNqbnchJd5K0bgKBNyMqkbPaqhOqAtscFZiJZgc/s1600/DSC00545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2cn2c3010KgdPm0LFbjCJJHHhh9HSENrfIcuJsNkoa8-5XrRFmh9qcEnmQ1XGjh9TGiZGM0P1zOBmhB26gNx26bVV2s36NsUFch0iNqbnchJd5K0bgKBNyMqkbPaqhOqAtscFZiJZgc/s640/DSC00545.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I absolutely love the paint color and the way it turned out. Farrow & Ball carry many beautiful colors if you're in the market for paint. If you order a paint fan from F&B you can have Home Depot or Lowes color match any hue for a lot less. Here are some more photos of the styled cabinet:<br />
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The gold accents on the china look divine with the paint color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOeHN118XW06d8ko-uhj74CErz-5_tpOJd0husSc0SP61kgHGBFCKjOvzQcIe1-azGL1edfQsU7ocFVfu9_jGpSAoYUiDo0beCou5uqEjcrtr-hj2U3k7kMGnHScmoJYwzZgYqNiwkVA/s1600/DSC00555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOeHN118XW06d8ko-uhj74CErz-5_tpOJd0husSc0SP61kgHGBFCKjOvzQcIe1-azGL1edfQsU7ocFVfu9_jGpSAoYUiDo0beCou5uqEjcrtr-hj2U3k7kMGnHScmoJYwzZgYqNiwkVA/s640/DSC00555.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The green, floral, cream and sugar containers in the photo above are part of my grandmother's china set.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSmsPfkZ-uB7FHhP9BqMbadKH-ElxzR95ckFSwFfgf_-isDxlO0294VJXEdXbmxSq1evpU9t4LLMsR3gvDqYqE80Cx4f0KNPBgoPm9NJqlmg1bQxsuA5VnZkCc2z9Ot0lc3P-8rEl8ko/s1600/DSC00556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSmsPfkZ-uB7FHhP9BqMbadKH-ElxzR95ckFSwFfgf_-isDxlO0294VJXEdXbmxSq1evpU9t4LLMsR3gvDqYqE80Cx4f0KNPBgoPm9NJqlmg1bQxsuA5VnZkCc2z9Ot0lc3P-8rEl8ko/s640/DSC00556.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here are some more shots from our dining room. The chandelier over the dining table is actually a DIY project from our wedding. For months, I stalked Craigslist for old brass chandeliers. These chandeliers were very popular in the 90's and as people have renovated and updated their homes, they have listed them on Craigslist for $10-$15 each. I picked up 6 brass chandeliers of similar shapes and sizes and my dad and I painted them white, and adorned them with crystals. At the wedding reception, we had a chandelier hanging above each reception table.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNKicZvEq6aZUo8_mJumTGQl0nEKH9fn1lkTIQQE2huC1K7TN6BDHUowBZNXYRuEwYUyQvASxiYUoXX_n8LCLpyFKZaJrEImi6TTmFQE-_M8nS7OJ6PXVeVh4E1kHtDP13jIfIk6TBYE/s1600/IMG_4982+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNKicZvEq6aZUo8_mJumTGQl0nEKH9fn1lkTIQQE2huC1K7TN6BDHUowBZNXYRuEwYUyQvASxiYUoXX_n8LCLpyFKZaJrEImi6TTmFQE-_M8nS7OJ6PXVeVh4E1kHtDP13jIfIk6TBYE/s640/IMG_4982+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Photo by Kelli Baker of Simply Unique Photography</div>
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And the cake table:<br />
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Photo by Kelli Baker of Simply Unique Photography</div>
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I believe in filling your home with sentimental and meaningful things. I love looking at the chandelier and remembering all of the time and effort we put into transforming each one and the emotion I felt when I saw them hanging in the reception tent for the first time.</div>
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Anyway, back to the dining room: </div>
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My dad is brilliant and did an exceptional job on this china cabinet. I am considering in the future possibly adding some gold hardware to the piece and maybe doing a treatment on the inside such as grasscloth wallpaper. So stay tuned . . .<br />
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If you are ever in need of a very experienced and meticulous craftsman, don't hesitate to contact me at lori.craighazelwood@gmail.com. My dad does professional quality at a reasonable price.<br />
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Hope everyone has had a restful and relaxing summer. I am very excited for Fall and the new journey Mr H and I will be embarking on.<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s1600/signature.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-32890580044802549762013-06-01T16:18:00.003-04:002013-06-01T16:18:38.988-04:00Pantry OrganizationHope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend! Mr H and I spent the holiday with both of our families in the Great Smoky Mountains. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time exploring the aquarium, playing miniature golf (I won!!!! Probably first and last time ever!!), eating caramel apples (well, I did) and just hanging out and telling stories. It was a lot of fun but boy are we excited to be spending this weekend at home . . .doing projects (well I am, Mr H not so much ha).<br />
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Today's project has been a long time in the making! We have been collecting the supplies for this project for literally months. Finally, after months of collecting, I give you:<br />
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When I started this blog, I vowed to myself and to the readers to show the process and the failures-the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. To be faithful to this vow and completely transparent, here's the unfortunate "hot mess" that our pantry had become (please don't judge!):<br />
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WOOF! What. A. Disaster! This was an organizational nightmare. Pudding was stacked on top of an almond container, quickbread mix intermingled with Mr H's protein stuff and literally no chance of finding what we needed in less than 2 minutes. In addition to not being able to find anything, or knowing what we actually had, I couldn't stand all of the random packaging. I realize that the pantry, for the most part, is purely functional-holds food and other supplies- and shouldn't be decorated. But, I couldn't stand the way it looked and decided it needed to be streamlined with an overhaul of epic proportions!</div>
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To achieve this overhaul without running to the store and buying all the canisters I could find in a day, I took the more cost-efficient route. Over the last few months we have been saving every spaghetti sauce and random food jars we could find. We removed the labels, used "Goo Gone" on the pesky remaining adhesive, and painted all of the lids gold for uniformity (Rustoleum gold spray paint-the best gold). I picked up some of the Martha Stewart line bookplates and removable adhesive stickers at Staples to pimp out the jars:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5tXZVjOn2zDekw-HCnxWelDifjLebipBeH345SglaVk3JMLogkDBt7kiX9kLAgGKkpdsSgNfTSImKBZ0cjAKjiqbOoXl8HOPy907LdtB5b-YCbVzbKBT8S85ZHQ936wqWFpvLzxofJU/s1600/DSC00489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5tXZVjOn2zDekw-HCnxWelDifjLebipBeH345SglaVk3JMLogkDBt7kiX9kLAgGKkpdsSgNfTSImKBZ0cjAKjiqbOoXl8HOPy907LdtB5b-YCbVzbKBT8S85ZHQ936wqWFpvLzxofJU/s640/DSC00489.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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These removable stickers were on clearance for $1 a pack! After cleaning out the entire section, Mr H used some chalkboard paint that we already had to make some DIY chalboard labels. The Martha Stewart line carries a chalkboard removable label but of course they weren't on clearance. And at about $5 for a pack of 2 (if I remember correctly) we decided we could easily make them ourselves.<br />
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We ended up purchasing a few jars and canisters because the spaghetti sauce jars weren't appropriate for all of our food-storing needs. After comparing prices, Home Goods and TJ Max seemed to have the best selection, quality and price. Most of the canisters that we purchased were about $2 each. A lot of the lids of the purchased canisters were silver so we spray painted them gold, as well.<br />
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I pulled everything out of the pantry and began filling jars and canisters. I attached our DIY chalkboard labels and used a chalk pen to label our goodies. Just remember, when organizing, part of the process is making a bigger mess than you already had!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkX-_IdQDQM9PHgp0nDKZm5VfbPaenRqOO5rdhOnztKG-QRGoRV8Q0CvEmbRtMKd44hkf9-Y5XGNcfCLakC0QunfS2r51nKttsChq_2kqIUWNGjH5pifYFoSxupNmCaiJUQTcDM45F-uA/s1600/DSC00487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkX-_IdQDQM9PHgp0nDKZm5VfbPaenRqOO5rdhOnztKG-QRGoRV8Q0CvEmbRtMKd44hkf9-Y5XGNcfCLakC0QunfS2r51nKttsChq_2kqIUWNGjH5pifYFoSxupNmCaiJUQTcDM45F-uA/s640/DSC00487.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The key is to personalize the area to be the most functional and efficient for your family needs. Not everyone needs a canister for protein or brown rice. Sitting down and thinking/documenting what your family uses most will help make the space more tailored to your needs. Also, not every food item can be removed from it's original container and poured into a clear canister. Can you imagine scooping peanut butter out of its jar and into a clear canister? That's not an efficient use of time! So, for all those items that need to be left in their original packaging, baskets come to the rescue. I picked up some medium and small black, plastic baskets at Target and have been very pleased with their durability! I attached the Martha Stewart line bookplates to the plastic baskets and labeled accordingly. For our needs, it made sense to label a basket for drink mixes (crystal light, hot chocolate, cider, etc), cans of food, baking and snacks.<br />
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Here's the final product:<br />
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So much better! Organized and contained!<br />
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Everything is so much easier to find. Don't feel that you have to use all of the same shape or size of canister. I actually like the variation between the spaghetti sauce (green arrow below) and the purchased jars:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsFcteoYE_34knhP13p6vls9nSrwE_wtLlvRPybahyaiaScdwiCR9IB_486wPM2nYoAmBLKjqXQTPz0b6C2Nc8AfHQK8Lz-SlCdb4kKlRGADyglxMMvK8bbZ0O3p0ugcUNxKQ7u6-ZLg/s1600/DSC00494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsFcteoYE_34knhP13p6vls9nSrwE_wtLlvRPybahyaiaScdwiCR9IB_486wPM2nYoAmBLKjqXQTPz0b6C2Nc8AfHQK8Lz-SlCdb4kKlRGADyglxMMvK8bbZ0O3p0ugcUNxKQ7u6-ZLg/s640/DSC00494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The best thing about the labels is that they are removable AND erasable! Just erase and change the label if you run out of rotini and don't need anymore.<br />
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The baskets have really worked well, so far. Choose something that's easy to wipe down like plastic and durable enough to hold heavier items.<br />
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The bookplate and label help organize the baskets with similar items:<br />
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Again, the key is to make it as functional for YOUR family as possible. Here's one more look at the before and after:<br />
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Do you have issues with the organization of your pantry or any other area of your home? Sometimes the easiest first step is to sit down and decide how you want that space to work for you or your family. I don't claim to be an expert organizer but if you'd like any suggestions or a second opinion on your organizational needs, feel free to email me at: lori.craighazelwood@gmail.com. I'd be happy to share my thoughts and opinions on your space!<br />
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I enjoy our pantry so much more now and can't wait to organize a new space . . .on to the next room :)<br />
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xoxo, <br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s1600/signature.png" />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-45901162263780783772013-05-13T12:22:00.000-04:002013-06-06T12:50:25.190-04:00{DIY} Custom Monogrammed TrayI hope that all of you had a great weekend and were able to spend it with family. We were fortunate to have Mr H's family come in from West Virginia so that we were able to spend Mother's Day with both sides of the family. The ladies had brunch at The Glitz restaurant in Irish Acres Antique store outside of Lexington. To the ladies out there, if you have not been to Irish Acres or The Glitz, you must go. The men kept themselves busy, as well. We had a delicious dinner at my parent's house and a fun time playing games.<br />
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For mother's day, I wanted to create a present for our amazing moms. On the web, there are many versions of this DIY project such as this inspiration tray at A Thoughtful Place (<a href="http://www.athoughtfulplaceblog.com/">www.athoughtfulplaceblog.com</a>):<br />
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<img alt="rusticglam" border="0" height="427" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VS_O4JSjgCw/UYiDxBM73dI/AAAAAAAAQVE/0vIurcYauB0/rusticglam1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rusticglam" width="640" /><br />
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I wanted to attempt this similar tray with a bit of a twist:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBYNoSpqfRBlzFRzRoEex0eHjQo4VrK_E-sAJWomzwNUc8XWcB20U2DtNBIBuDpSWPKNS6yCe-INVQ2HKWiBQTTnVJEaomdCjUA0QiwItA_gFAlFvzvRHDxDCVBRJS-oK5ePtZtIA8Pk/s1600/DSC00482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBYNoSpqfRBlzFRzRoEex0eHjQo4VrK_E-sAJWomzwNUc8XWcB20U2DtNBIBuDpSWPKNS6yCe-INVQ2HKWiBQTTnVJEaomdCjUA0QiwItA_gFAlFvzvRHDxDCVBRJS-oK5ePtZtIA8Pk/s640/DSC00482.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I popped into Hobby Lobby in search of a photo frame for this project. I found this drift wood/farmhouse looking frame and knew that it would be perfect. It was on sale for 50% off so I snagged a couple of these beauties for $15 each.<br />
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Next, I headed over to the hardware and drawer pull aisle at Hobby Lobby and found some silver/platinum pulls with a little crystal bling. I thought that the contrast between the rustic frame and glamorous pulls would be perfect. The pulls were also on sale for 50% off and rang in at about $3 each.<br />
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I love monogrammed decor and accessories so I decided that adding a custom monogram to each frame would be the finishing touch for this custom tray. I headed to another aisle in Hobby Lobby and snagged some glass etching cream. It was not on sale, but I downloaded a 40% off coupon from the Hobby Lobby website and ended up getting the etching cream for about $5.<br />
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Glass etching cream</div>
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I played around in Word with different fonts and sizes to make my monogram stencil for the glass etching. I liked Times New Roman the best with a font size of 250. After printing off the letters for the monogram, I gathered an exacto knife and contact paper to begin the glass etching process.<br />
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I removed the glass from the photo frames and cut a fairly large (about 1/2 the size of the glass) piece of contact paper to smooth over the center of the glass. You want the piece of contact paper to be large enough so that when you apply the etching cream, it does not escape the edges of the contact paper and etch sections of the glass that you don't intend to etch! <br />
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After applying the contact paper to the glass, I centered my printed letter on top of the contact paper. Using an exacto knife, I carefully traced the letter, making sure that the cuts went through the paper and through the contact paper, below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGs_I2rRsDqIY-kDS4xdYPXthKnegQ41tZ3RoWYVVIbeWMl7u2Oy3jxp7fFBkR81MWjRKjzVmnAg3oWM3Y3H6qSDlsFDEhbQohNsWg2fVpmMWmKmlYvSDkoMxTYP5rJxz8O1W6j6QiFs/s1600/DSC00474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGs_I2rRsDqIY-kDS4xdYPXthKnegQ41tZ3RoWYVVIbeWMl7u2Oy3jxp7fFBkR81MWjRKjzVmnAg3oWM3Y3H6qSDlsFDEhbQohNsWg2fVpmMWmKmlYvSDkoMxTYP5rJxz8O1W6j6QiFs/s640/DSC00474.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After tracing out the letter, I used the exacto knife to lift a cut edge of the contact paper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7J2v_g8KArPHiahrQJGy4Hr7aDyr_eQnW4M7xcFb64WjcGF4DzSjhhW3hS3uFxYOZc9gD9BUQX-zYrq33fr1m0HrRPR2MoQa0ZXpuwsEiWENdMeGbPBHksSxE3WxEpeDvCRrgUk3IgE/s1600/DSC00475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7J2v_g8KArPHiahrQJGy4Hr7aDyr_eQnW4M7xcFb64WjcGF4DzSjhhW3hS3uFxYOZc9gD9BUQX-zYrq33fr1m0HrRPR2MoQa0ZXpuwsEiWENdMeGbPBHksSxE3WxEpeDvCRrgUk3IgE/s640/DSC00475.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I peeled off the entire letter in preparation to apply the etching cream.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnFd3KLidccbU8-53BeSSbenhDMKZh9oxuNNF-YXDHxT8Q-4haux-_zxKQdffzh3oTrmcHBKvqDMwXYPss6mszIT67mr-GqPyfmI5DpRa1L49DefH5G9tNF_oyQbV5cOdWytv9kq22v4/s1600/DSC00476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnFd3KLidccbU8-53BeSSbenhDMKZh9oxuNNF-YXDHxT8Q-4haux-_zxKQdffzh3oTrmcHBKvqDMwXYPss6mszIT67mr-GqPyfmI5DpRa1L49DefH5G9tNF_oyQbV5cOdWytv9kq22v4/s640/DSC00476.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next, I used a foam paintbrush to apply the etching cream over the letter. This was the first time that I have etched glass so I wasn't sure how much cream to apply. Basically, I applied globs or dollops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ep6FM34ty4YOLWRmF6wABcQfQFgrCCtozYUAeTMSQIC19PeFsR_GYFRcjAtBt9Mz0IFdER5YSXdHx2lLhyphenhyphenjYALxwhohA3coOc8DRoHCfPuk5EDiLBsrLGjAtRbM0WkaetX-fu-lCDs8/s1600/DSC00477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ep6FM34ty4YOLWRmF6wABcQfQFgrCCtozYUAeTMSQIC19PeFsR_GYFRcjAtBt9Mz0IFdER5YSXdHx2lLhyphenhyphenjYALxwhohA3coOc8DRoHCfPuk5EDiLBsrLGjAtRbM0WkaetX-fu-lCDs8/s640/DSC00477.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I let the cream sit for 15-20 minutes to ensure that there was adequate time for the etching magic. I used a paper towel to wipe off the excess cream being careful not to spread the cream on any uncovered glass or my skin (read the warnings on the etching cream before use). Then, I peeled off the contact paper and ran warm water over the monogrammed letter and gave it a good wipe-down.<br />
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After etching the glass, the next step was to attach the drawer pulls to the photo frame. Since we were driving to Lexington for the day, I had my dad help me drill the pulls onto the frame. If you want this type of placement of the pulls/handles, make sure that the frame that you choose has a wide enough edge for attaching the hardware.<br />
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After attaching the pulls/handles, we have a custom, monogrammed frame that looks like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtDjAdfSmhK4z5gBX4Bb1mGCH5MYPur_CkfdJwBQvGpE_FeqglOZ8_sbSNrpV16t4R8lAHRhw4bfR1mx_IKjluvOY_HKl2cuW0VJgaTZ7ZM0zI2U8ay8MQmFQ_95KNoIMgHvpQgUZyvI/s1600/DSC00480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtDjAdfSmhK4z5gBX4Bb1mGCH5MYPur_CkfdJwBQvGpE_FeqglOZ8_sbSNrpV16t4R8lAHRhw4bfR1mx_IKjluvOY_HKl2cuW0VJgaTZ7ZM0zI2U8ay8MQmFQ_95KNoIMgHvpQgUZyvI/s640/DSC00480.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love the way the handles work with the rustic frame:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx36efAvmitogn6BQjHtwhwQv9tvWp4yX3uQJiN3NG9D3dLDfmDoWkYx4dzCV_k_XXkZuwh1jJvzEaF81qiN4MXg8tlW__aVHG-C8QEoB6CQOLjLgvcTmBMwDWtu6scNYalHqKealeBjE/s1600/DSC00481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx36efAvmitogn6BQjHtwhwQv9tvWp4yX3uQJiN3NG9D3dLDfmDoWkYx4dzCV_k_XXkZuwh1jJvzEaF81qiN4MXg8tlW__aVHG-C8QEoB6CQOLjLgvcTmBMwDWtu6scNYalHqKealeBjE/s640/DSC00481.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And now, a few styled shots of this custom tray:<br />
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For about <b>$21</b> and <b>30</b> minutes of work, you too can have a custom monogrammed tray. I love that there are so many options with this tray. An easy change-up would be to replace the cardboard backing that comes with the frame and add a piece of pretty fabric between the glass and cardboard. Or, a collage of photos would be a nice touch.<br />
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I enjoyed making these custom trays for our moms for mother's day. I consider my first experience with glass etching to be a success! I love the monogrammed glass so much that I might monogram everything I can get my hands on . . .watch out Sugar (the kitty cat)!!<br />
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xoxo,<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-15323667345967543872013-05-07T21:34:00.000-04:002013-05-07T21:34:00.735-04:00{DIY} Wedding Flower ShadowboxMr H and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago. Mr H planned all of the festivities and boy did he knock it out of the park! He surprised me with a trip to Lexington where we stayed in the very romantic, Gratz Park Inn. We walked around downtown and visited our wedding venue, the Headley Whitney Museum, where we reminisced on those vows we made, a year ago. As icing on the wedding cake, Mr H arranged for our wedding caterer to recreate the delicious southern meal that was served at our wedding reception, for our dinner. Completed with a trip to Keeneland, the weekend couldn't have been better.<br />
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There is quite possibly nothing that I am more sentimental about than our wedding. We spent so much time creating and pouring over every little detail for our big day. One of the biggest details that I planned and created was the wedding flowers. After ordering enough flowers to fill a garage, my mom and I tediously constructed the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, the boutonniere and the reception arrangements. Luckily, for me, my mom saved as many of these arrangements as possible and dried them in her attic. After a year of not knowing what to do with the dried flowers, I finally had an idea. In celebration of our 1 year wedding anniversary, I give you:<br />
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This shadowbox contains Mr H's cotton boutonniere and flowers from my bouquet, the bridesmaid bouquets and the reception table arrangements. <br />
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Bridal Bouquet</div>
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(photo by Kelli Baker of Simply Unique Photography)</div>
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Bridesmaid bouquets</div>
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(photo by Kelli Baker of Simply Unique Photography)</div>
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Mr H's boutonniere</div>
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(photo by Kelli Baker of Simply Unique Photography)</div>
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Reception table arrangements</div>
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(photo by Kelli Baker of Simply Unique Photography)</div>
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After drying the flowers, I disassembled the bouquets and cotton bol boutonniere.<br />
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I bought a shadowbox from Home Goods for about $12.00 for this project. I pulled out my hot glue gun and started gluing and arranging the flowers and greenery in the center of the shadowbox.<br />
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I quickly realized that it was going to take a lot of flowers and greenery to get the full, completely covered, effect that I was going for. I kept working my way out from the center, hot gluing each individual flower.<br />
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I may have burned my fingers a couple . . . or a few . . .times.<br />
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And finally, I filled all of the gaps:<br />
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While the colors of the dried flowers may not be great, I love the way it turned out! While this project only cost $12.00 (shadowbox), it was not fast and easy. It took at least 2 hours to delicately place and glue each individual flower. <br />
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I'm not sure yet where this shadowbox will live in our home, but I'm positive that I'll enjoy looking at it and remembering our wedding and all of the love represented on that day. <br />
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Do you have dried flowers set aside? Perhaps gifts from your significant other or from a loved one's funeral? This shadowbox is a good way to memorialize those fragile flowers.<br />
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P.S-I've considered doing a few posts documenting all of the details that we created for our wedding. Is this something that you readers would be interested in reading?<br />
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xoxo<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s1600/signature.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-28047136300696566382013-04-11T17:54:00.001-04:002013-04-11T17:54:42.370-04:00{Travel} Mr H turns 31<div style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
A couple of weekends ago, I surprised Mr H with a trip to one of our new favorite mountain getaways to celebrate his 31st birthday-Old Edwards Inn and Spa. OEI is located in the town of Highlands, North Carolina which is situated on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest. The weather is mild and the views are to-die-for. It is often rainy with a mystical fog settled down on the town. For us, this only adds to the romance and old world European charm of the property.</div>
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(Hello, sexy legs. He may kill me for this . . .reading The Economist, of course)</div>
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The drive to OEI is characterized by 5-8 miles of winding mountain roads with beautiful waterfalls emerging on either side of the drive.<br />
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Some of the waterfalls were only visible from the road while others had parking lots and pull-offs like the one pictured, above. It is truly an amazing drive.<br />
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There are several different types of accomodations at OEI: historic main inn, the Lodge, private cottages. We have chosen to stay at The Lodge the times that we have been because it seems to be more private with larger rooms. However, all options are beyond beautiful.<br />
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The Lodge has a main building where there's a lobby, butler's pantry (stocked with complementary soda, tea, coffee, fruit and Dove ice cream bars-we had a few . . .okay more than a few :)), and wrap around double-decker porch with rockers. On the Lodge grounds, though, there are individual cabins (think, luxury summer camp) that contain living rooms, fireplaces, jetted tubs, patios/sunrooms and heated bathroom floors. YES! HEATED BATHROOM FLOOR TILES! (we never knew how nice of an amenity that is until we stayed here).<br />
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The Lodge-front porch</div>
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The Lodge-lobby</div>
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The Lodge-looking out on the croquet lawn from the front porch</div>
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We did play a little croquet. Someone might have let someone win because it was his birthday ;)</div>
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(looks like he'd rather be playing golf)</div>
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Our room was beautifully adorned with period antiques.</div>
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Chest in our room</div>
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I enjoyed sitting out in our sunroom in the mornings with a cup of coffee.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBLCsMS3LANwCd1-rHlxDp7XQusP6hxNTr5zVbQW2Jy1Tq-9z9AMRqtJYTHfxmNeiHKtv1VyF5xcxYnGPfAIolGKxkEHqtYTV47rTBg4K1-uF4l5huVrzplP98h9JWY37QSYKGGTRUpA/s1600/HD1yaahHRInN-qMKArcAgd27aZR2-AugnTm7NGDxfyM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBLCsMS3LANwCd1-rHlxDp7XQusP6hxNTr5zVbQW2Jy1Tq-9z9AMRqtJYTHfxmNeiHKtv1VyF5xcxYnGPfAIolGKxkEHqtYTV47rTBg4K1-uF4l5huVrzplP98h9JWY37QSYKGGTRUpA/s640/HD1yaahHRInN-qMKArcAgd27aZR2-AugnTm7NGDxfyM.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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OEI has many amenities and activities: tennis, golf, 2 outdoor mineral pools, fitness center with group classes, horseback riding, flyfishing, and the amazing . . .heart skip a beat . . .spa.</div>
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There are no words to describe how nice this spa is. It is definitely the best amenity at OEI (and the main reason why we go). The best part of this amenity is that you DO NOT have to purchase a spa service to enjoy all of the facilities that the spa has to offer. There are men and women's separate areas with large swiss showers, dry and wet saunas, hot tubs, etc. And outside of these rooms, there are beautiful "meditation rooms" complete with waterfall features and fireplaces. </div>
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Spa living room</div>
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We purchased the Rainforest Rejuvenation spa service since it was Mr H's birthday (we were in a steam chamber where we rubbed different exfoliants and muds on eachother. Sorry mom and dad ;)) But the majority of our spa time was spent together, reading a book, with a view like this:</div>
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We were so spoiled. I asked for some hot tea . . .and poof</div>
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Terrrible back lighting, but this is the look of total relaxation:</div>
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The food at OEI is truly amazing, as well. We ate dinner and breakfast in their signature restaurant, Madison's (french toast and their thick sliced bacon is a must for breakfast).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z3V9dyAMoGTV5cSbdBlbx1eRwHMHPHbyALxeNwkng6ALX6Mq33_lbGWdU3-gOu1khQSu2E1H46ESiBG6Qjsk1RqJi7xfqaSwji7TU9Ghg725myCiz6LmKLbU41G6C2ak-art8fr8qpQ/s1600/bwA1DfGTq5tELyer5Mtk9E_sOqJVJOSHj0Rw5dOFQBk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z3V9dyAMoGTV5cSbdBlbx1eRwHMHPHbyALxeNwkng6ALX6Mq33_lbGWdU3-gOu1khQSu2E1H46ESiBG6Qjsk1RqJi7xfqaSwji7TU9Ghg725myCiz6LmKLbU41G6C2ak-art8fr8qpQ/s640/bwA1DfGTq5tELyer5Mtk9E_sOqJVJOSHj0Rw5dOFQBk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Madison's lobby (I just die over the decor at this inn)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgroB9Jaao6DJfNBGBzLTa7gl567m7Sfty5tXLYqd5bzrrxzJ73su1EstBGcdQaZemJbZtwlouDjjVm_GHYsUVIgimdXfKLoo5gt3nx7y2dAJYE0WBJtKkDZAiRghgaxZ4kxBjQ6ct8b8/s1600/frE74hDHIEJzYnoiq2ls1BhYhxWeG_3kTlh2ISx4k7k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgroB9Jaao6DJfNBGBzLTa7gl567m7Sfty5tXLYqd5bzrrxzJ73su1EstBGcdQaZemJbZtwlouDjjVm_GHYsUVIgimdXfKLoo5gt3nx7y2dAJYE0WBJtKkDZAiRghgaxZ4kxBjQ6ct8b8/s640/frE74hDHIEJzYnoiq2ls1BhYhxWeG_3kTlh2ISx4k7k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Madison's lobby-Love their mix of textures and colors</div>
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Madison's restaurant-I just die over this granite stone wall</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmMBnzZaApQvd_98UmnwWVusiEGixL8JHAir9q9oqsWZmJFjR_szrG_rjUXHy4Ynt9lLiGjy1ZlOtahaHadoCCHD_qJGXSP_1U9Rddu1R6vcFb2SqKTRjB0zKV0EMTV7izScu-gVdNdU/s1600/ohzu6o0VSJ0xwxiTjxRMozI7zLAlE3-6fiHQVfZkVsU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmMBnzZaApQvd_98UmnwWVusiEGixL8JHAir9q9oqsWZmJFjR_szrG_rjUXHy4Ynt9lLiGjy1ZlOtahaHadoCCHD_qJGXSP_1U9Rddu1R6vcFb2SqKTRjB0zKV0EMTV7izScu-gVdNdU/s640/ohzu6o0VSJ0xwxiTjxRMozI7zLAlE3-6fiHQVfZkVsU.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Breakfast for the Birthday boy</div>
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OEI really sets themselves apart with their customer service and attention to detail. They greeted us by name at every meal and made it a point to say "Happy Birthday Mr. Hazelwood" every time they passed. In addition to that, they surprised us both with a beatiful dinner table setup for our upcoming wedding anniversary.</div>
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(Seriously? Rose petals? Sigh . . .)</div>
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And when we returned to our room later that night . . .</div>
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Rose petals at turn-down. You had me at rose . . .petal.</div>
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It is important to take the time to pamper yourself and the ones that you love, from time to time. I did my best, along with OEI, to pamper and spoil my husband for his birthday weekend. He works long hours to provide for our family (as do I :)) and I wanted to show him my appreciation. And while we have only been married a year (WHOA . . .anniversary coming up!), and shouldn't need a "reset" button, OEI and Highlands gave us time to better connect with eachother and escape from our demanding professional lives for a weekend.</div>
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OEI has officially been added to our "favorites, hope to frequent" list and I can't wait to make many more wonderful memories with this husband, that I love so much:</div>
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(P.S. How old are we that we needed coffee to stay awake during the after-dinner live music?)</div>
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So while I'm feeling mushy and nostalgic, go hug on those that you love. We never know what tomorrow will bring.</div>
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(I am neither sponsored nor paid by OEI for this post)</div>
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xoxo</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-3178380214676954382013-04-08T20:10:00.000-04:002013-04-08T20:10:44.818-04:00{DIY} Garage Door UpdateWelcome back! I hope all of you readers have had a great couple of weeks. The weather has been so nice the last few days so Mr H and I have tried to stay outside as much as possible (when we haven't been on the road!). Saturday night, I styled and helped my parents throw a spring cookout at their house (bad blogger because I didn't take pictures). We played cornhole, roasted marshmallows and had an incredible spread of food including fresh squeezed lemonade.<br />
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Has this amazing weather inspired any of you to tackle some outdoor projects? I have a few projects up my sleeve to share with you in the next few weeks. The project I'm going to share with you today was completed this weekend. We aren't fortunate enough yet to have a garage of our own, so I borrowed my parent's for this reveal:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw_BfhiEONH6i6O3mAnE6IFhRZy3nEw7Bw86duQjWvyjwU_lVVNMxG28gDSVsEviS9wxre8p-fovIk1eUWfblYuL97L6Z1C4FKjnAzY7SoCjdcq2_fzNTNBLwvH9Mpq1q8mD4uPOYozM/s1600/DSC00462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw_BfhiEONH6i6O3mAnE6IFhRZy3nEw7Bw86duQjWvyjwU_lVVNMxG28gDSVsEviS9wxre8p-fovIk1eUWfblYuL97L6Z1C4FKjnAzY7SoCjdcq2_fzNTNBLwvH9Mpq1q8mD4uPOYozM/s640/DSC00462.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mr H and I were in Home Depot color matching paint for an upcoming project (stay tuned!!!!) when we came across a garage door accessory kit (Crown Bolt Traditional Decorative Garage Hardware Kit) for $19.99. I have a love-hate relationship with garage doors. I love their functionality (especially during snowy blizzards) but hate their aluminumy (yes that's a word), eye-soreness. If you are lucky enough to own a carriage door style garage, kudos to you. For those that aren't so lucky, this DIY is for you!<br />
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My parents graciously sacrificed their garage door for one of the easiest, fastest, DIY projects I've completed, to date.<br />
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All you need is the garage door hardware kit and a drill.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FpWJTCRZwA24DzIuSNhL5A4qPTvGeNEXIrYk-BFFIhpiH3uw9fFpCrVDSx5qkjas9VcRX5luo5nmzo1NrxpsnDfqVRG4SxcBHg-LWFHi6wNLsAa8siXz9PWhzMtgSuc5DNjYlmv8Uu0/s1600/DSC00453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FpWJTCRZwA24DzIuSNhL5A4qPTvGeNEXIrYk-BFFIhpiH3uw9fFpCrVDSx5qkjas9VcRX5luo5nmzo1NrxpsnDfqVRG4SxcBHg-LWFHi6wNLsAa8siXz9PWhzMtgSuc5DNjYlmv8Uu0/s640/DSC00453.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Oh, and you need a garage door too (thanks mom and dad!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xjxH222haB77IUgL9TPqFBr7gJY-U4Baixbvlr7YzX_wPWL8lhoGmz1kwaztbn_bt6_kUxXJJ7zHEhATyx72ye_bduy-62t-ZmXYm-3I5Bwi8YOF3Ismts8PfwWM9ADSROyCvXPzI-Q/s1600/DSC00454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xjxH222haB77IUgL9TPqFBr7gJY-U4Baixbvlr7YzX_wPWL8lhoGmz1kwaztbn_bt6_kUxXJJ7zHEhATyx72ye_bduy-62t-ZmXYm-3I5Bwi8YOF3Ismts8PfwWM9ADSROyCvXPzI-Q/s640/DSC00454.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The kit comes with all of the screws you should need depending on the depth of your garage door. For my parent's door, the smallest screws worked best.</span></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the back of the kit, the manufacture<span style="font-size: small;">r gives suggestions on how to space/arrange the hardware. One important thing to<span style="font-size: small;"> remember is that the door <span style="font-size: small;">still needs to function! Do not <span style="font-size: small;">mount the hardware across a seam. If you do, you'll have a pretty garage door . . .that won't raise.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIrI09MgwGK3wRNMoz6xdv-fEBsCCDlMenz9pYF3_6U9G8k_xoWeY1Ga_v199g0sPYNxt0R8fEML8aAxoeyw5rfeB0ASa7ZKsD-4dbmdLA-CtHBl35ETZe9VjNpqLN6ZScjW1zuxJZLs/s1600/DSC00456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIrI09MgwGK3wRNMoz6xdv-fEBsCCDlMenz9pYF3_6U9G8k_xoWeY1Ga_v199g0sPYNxt0R8fEML8aAxoeyw5rfeB0ASa7ZKsD-4dbmdLA-CtHBl35ETZe9VjNpqLN6ZScjW1zuxJZLs/s640/DSC00456.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Drill your holes (<span style="font-size: small;">dad's hand made it on<span style="font-size: small;">to the blog) on<span style="font-size: small;">ce you've decided on spacing and <span style="font-size: small;">place 3 screws on each piece of hardware </span>(notice <span style="font-size: small;">the seam line that we avoided under the <span style="font-size: small;">hardware).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We chose to place 2 of these pieces on each side (for a total of 4).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu36-7kOursenTDBmbPRMksOGBk8L_9FnloebpHRyOQ3b2PujKyGgB53olsRz8H6z07Zog4qxXpxOF7WBoB5g3grqkkuYaD6rnGvcZbyotPmKBFvmbWfziS6-Ep0jCb6xoskg5TsQVYTo/s1600/DSC00457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu36-7kOursenTDBmbPRMksOGBk8L_9FnloebpHRyOQ3b2PujKyGgB53olsRz8H6z07Zog4qxXpxOF7WBoB5g3grqkkuYaD6rnGvcZbyotPmKBFvmbWfziS6-Ep0jCb6xoskg5TsQVYTo/s640/DSC00457.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">After completing these side pieces, we <span style="font-size: small;">drilled holes and attached the decorative handles once again av<span style="font-size: small;">oid<span style="font-size: small;">ing the garage door seams. You may <span style="font-size: small;">wonder if the handles cle<span style="font-size: small;">ar the opening when the garage door is raised-and I am <span style="font-size: small;">happy to announce that they do!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">While it is not <span style="font-size: small;">quite as pretty as a true carriage style door, it is an amazing <span style="font-size: small;">transformation for only <span style="font-size: small;"><b>$20!!</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here she is, all dressed up:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcynHv50GTII2rGqjPBGP26PJcJ3OY31iEsruzuRptcRYwgISc-qmwElZ8bJhbJDX6kTv5Hb-6uNwKj9yIGeYY5MNAAJbaR-UsoCCRTDZKTsT-CWqZB2WOLK4ZGdn2N76E0Ud6CHu3Ks/s1600/DSC00464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcynHv50GTII2rGqjPBGP26PJcJ3OY31iEsruzuRptcRYwgISc-qmwElZ8bJhbJDX6kTv5Hb-6uNwKj9yIGeYY5MNAAJbaR-UsoCCRTDZKTsT-CWqZB2WOLK4ZGdn2N76E0Ud6CHu3Ks/s640/DSC00464.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> And because I enjoy looking at this 15 minute tra<span style="font-size: small;">nsformation, here are a few more images:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFjZSc615-s3tZvowFx7R8sdv2IGGGiHdylEDzIxshwgBT3UcS3FOOUtSA3LmvneERrtnW7pRSqX-qRwjg9N_chDGO5NN3JYAJTXzIE-_IRpvcaBhoPCwycVsn21dfQVlCQnbzKuG3XQ/s1600/DSC00460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeWNo-kMPIXloOI0lIR2nl_PgPutuLgiJUdFqHeEj0QIZCU3ohy8VIUxvzvc7XgYCK92VNOdZxx2mDumWifA8abC6TJ8EZm_akjAOaPgu2DFHJGrOozqceCVYh2h54gj9zIskBdPT0GU/s1600/DSC00458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeWNo-kMPIXloOI0lIR2nl_PgPutuLgiJUdFqHeEj0QIZCU3ohy8VIUxvzvc7XgYCK92VNOdZxx2mDumWifA8abC6TJ8EZm_akjAOaPgu2DFHJGrOozqceCVYh2h54gj9zIskBdPT0GU/s640/DSC00458.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvqJ0voWG3c0SF3WADekuGcqOpdCwYFzay9sbfjV3xmheAUaKBo42kHEVHbWdOG6PYXO4d0xX-mybZLnec19J8qo4Qx3Hc6MlTqGqkLkBo-TamuwlaHfDmumZEkJpuPnJn91x9FQHDkE/s1600/DSC00460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvqJ0voWG3c0SF3WADekuGcqOpdCwYFzay9sbfjV3xmheAUaKBo42kHEVHbWdOG6PYXO4d0xX-mybZLnec19J8qo4Qx3Hc6MlTqGqkLkBo-TamuwlaHfDmumZEkJpuPnJn91x9FQHDkE/s640/DSC00460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'l<span style="font-size: small;">l update you with more pictures when they've <span style="font-size: small;">tackled their outdoor cleanup and </span>the<span style="font-size: small;">ir landscape and gardens are in full bloom.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, <span style="font-size: small;">run don't walk to Home Depot to get this kit</span> and drill some holes in your garage door! You might want to check with your parents first before poking holes in theirs :)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">F<span style="font-size: small;">YI-If you've had trouble leaving comments on my blog posts anony<span style="font-size: small;">mously</span></span>, that issue should now be resolved. Please <span style="font-size: small;">keep me updated should you find a problem.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">xoxo </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </h1>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s1600/signature.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-11787003681833479572013-03-18T19:55:00.005-04:002013-03-18T19:55:52.030-04:00Buffet Upcycle ~ Use What You HaveWelcome back! First and foremost, I apologize for the time that has passed since my last post. We had a death in the family so Mr H and I have been spending a lot of time with our families the last few weeks. And I must say, while everyone's hearts were saddened at our loss, we truly enjoyed the time that it allowed us to spend together playing games and reminiscing (Phase 10 and Sequence are family favorites!). I'm going to try and make up for my absence with a few extra project posts.<br />
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Today's post is about a concept that I'm desperately trying to embrace in my life-"Use what you have." One of the goals that I have set for myself this year is to: <i><b>re-purpose what I have, restore what someone else had and splurge only on what I love</b>. </i><br />
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Yes, I would love to walk into both Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware and say "I'll take one of everything." However, this is neither practical nor good for my young marriage - Mr H may kill me! So, I'm determined to make furniture that I have work by giving it a facelift, bringing furniture from a thrift store back to life, and splurging only when I fall in love with a piece. With that being said, I am going to try to avoid buying a piece of furniture (or anything for that matter) just to "make do" until I find something better.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Example 1: Dark, Tired, Buffet</span><br />
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I bought this sofa table a million years ago at Target.<br />
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Before</div>
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Technically, this is a sofa table but it has been used as a desk and most recently as a buffet in our dining room (please ignore the tabletop decor as it was in the process of being transitioned to Spring). I was/am tired of all of the dark wood furniture in our place so instead of hunting for a new buffet or sideboard, I decided to "upcycle" this guy by giving him a much-needed facelift.</div>
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Ever since I incorporated gold and gray as a color combination in my wedding decor, I have been in love with the combined hues! So, I started with a light gray with beige undertones - Fieldstone by Benjamin Moore.</div>
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I am a BIG fan of this Behr Premium Paint and Primer in one (Home Depot color matched the paint). While it is slightly more expensive ($14 for 1 quart), my experience so far has been that it cuts the number of coats needed by at least 1/2. <br />
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Next, I ordered some gold drawer cup pulls from a hardware store online called Amerock. I have ordered several pieces of hardware from this store online and have been very pleased with the price, quality and delivery time.<br />
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These drawer cups were about $2 each and I ordered a total of 3.<br />
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I applied the paint with a foam roller for even coverage and to eliminate brush-stroke marks. A small foam brush was used for the detail on the fronts of the drawers. After about 2 hours, 2 coats of paint (allowing 1/2 hour drying time between coats), and attaching some new hardware bling, this buffet got a major facelift:<br />
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After</div>
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For roughly $20, this buffet transformed from drab to fab! The dining room has really benefited and brightened from this upcycle. Here are some more shots of the new Spring vignette:</div>
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I staged the table with things I just collected from around our place-trying to keep it light and fresh.<br />
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I love the way the gold hardware brings out the beige warmth in the gray.<br />
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Nothing says Spring like some fresh cut flowers. Submerging a stem of green leaves inside a glass vase filled with water can be an unexpected floral addition. In this glass vase, I just contoured and wrapped the stem along the inside wall of the vase.</div>
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If you follow me on instagram (lori_bluegrasspearls), you may have seen the gold frame and mat that I scored at a thrift store for 75 cents!! That's so cheap for a frame PLUS a mat! I'm not sure yet what will end up in this frame, but I have some ideas.</div>
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I have not sealed it yet with a protective coating. I'm going to watch the piece and try to decide if I think that it needs it. If you paint a piece of furniture that gets a lot of use or activity, I would definitely seal it (Minwax Water-Based Polycrylic Protective Finish in “Clear Gloss” is a favorite).</div>
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Now, a final before and after (so you don't have to scroll up again): </div>
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Kitty cat tested and approved. </div>
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Source List:</div>
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Paint - Fieldstone by Benjamin Moore</div>
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Table - Target (not available anymore)</div>
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Cup drawer pulls - Amerock online</div>
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Silver candlesticks - wedding present from Pottery Barn</div>
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Lamp - Home Goods (many years ago)</div>
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White "H" pitcher - wedding present from Pottery Barn</div>
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Decorative grey "H" - Restoration Hardware</div>
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White platter - Pottery Barn</div>
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Seagrass market tote - boutique in Seaside, FL</div>
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Chair - TJ Max</div>
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Throw pillow - Target</div>
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Throw blanket - Target</div>
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I hope you enjoyed seeing an upcycle of an existing piece of furniture in our home. What are your thoughts? Have you upcycled a piece of existing furniture from your home before or are you more likely to go find something new for the space?</div>
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Happy restoring and recycling!</div>
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xoxo </div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s1600/signature.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-21087373484745704082013-02-24T23:04:00.001-05:002013-02-24T23:04:26.280-05:00{DIY} Painted Toy AnimalsWe've had a pretty quiet but fun weekend here complete with a visit from a special friend from college for a date night filled with reminiscing. The sunshine was a nice and welcome change.<br />
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Today's DIY is a two-parter. There are pictures all over Pinterest of the growing trend of painted animal figurines. So, today I tried my hand at a DIY animal toy makeover.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part I</span><br />
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To begin this DIY, I made a trip to the store I despise the most-Walmart. The truth is, it takes patience of steel for me to get in and out of this store without having a complete meltdown. Just ask Mr. H. The aisles are too skinny and the store overcrowded. Just not my idea of a fun shopping experience. With that said, it is common knowledge that Walmart has everything! So after unsuccessful trips to the Dollar Tree and Target, I decided to give ole Wally World a chance in hopes of finding the perfect sized plastic animal toys.<br />
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I found these guys for $1 each.<br />
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Before (poor giraffe. Excuse my poor photography)</div>
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They also have lions, tigers . . .no bears (can't help myself). But oh my, I was most drawn to the elephant, giraffe and naturally the horse.<br />
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To be completely honest, I bought these little guys on Saturday but never made it home with them. After the excitement of finding the perfect sized animals for the perfect cost, I apparently left the bag that they were in hanging in the carousel of shopping bags at the express checkout counter. Has this ever happened to you? I thought I double-checked every bag in that carousel! Words can't describe the frustration!<br />
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Anyway, due to my complete obsession with gold I decided to try a new product out on these guys-liquid gold leaf.<br />
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I picked up this liquid gold leaf at Hobby Lobby for about $4.00.<br />
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I chose the horse to be the liquid gold leaf guinea pig:<br />
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The application was so easy with a small paint brush. And, a little bit of gold leaf goes a long way. It only took about 2-3 dips of the paint brush in the pot of leaf to coat this stallion.<br />
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Here he is in all of his golden glory:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUGlndgBaeB5da9TGuxA_6oWYWCFaaSMZkXEc8ggYWdWEF6HU7OeXlgh6qGyR3Zyc1uu1T7EKq83nqfBHwedzgwFFW9brLmO1k4zCvj-weTiZUpRjzSwFQkZgWXN6EVd-AmLq3hoSC68/s1600/DSC00378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUGlndgBaeB5da9TGuxA_6oWYWCFaaSMZkXEc8ggYWdWEF6HU7OeXlgh6qGyR3Zyc1uu1T7EKq83nqfBHwedzgwFFW9brLmO1k4zCvj-weTiZUpRjzSwFQkZgWXN6EVd-AmLq3hoSC68/s640/DSC00378.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After</div>
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Here are a couple shots of this golden beauty in an equestrian vignette on the buffet:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljGYkgHnnACozYOr_6AE-yK8f7gR8ArqffOxwsHP5TwKH9HScrXbLsqkVQ02ypvnO63epwnzeWHZUWwiu8KZECU9JW916P7ToPFCi-kwNX_zkLs3R-G1_XXy3CkXH1sqwewbG5S6Wy4w/s1600/DSC00382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljGYkgHnnACozYOr_6AE-yK8f7gR8ArqffOxwsHP5TwKH9HScrXbLsqkVQ02ypvnO63epwnzeWHZUWwiu8KZECU9JW916P7ToPFCi-kwNX_zkLs3R-G1_XXy3CkXH1sqwewbG5S6Wy4w/s640/DSC00382.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjzA5CsURdW_U24w9vVj6Bf5di4Xqna3ljKqW9ugEa9WB6kNgFWPCovapQsdYqWehUMF_EoGHNQ6EK2QtzWfM1mkSSOKx5EGoXfMgyXYGgVbRXT31DNcflfqEKGfShC0PeUt1Tk31MT8/s1600/DSC00384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjzA5CsURdW_U24w9vVj6Bf5di4Xqna3ljKqW9ugEa9WB6kNgFWPCovapQsdYqWehUMF_EoGHNQ6EK2QtzWfM1mkSSOKx5EGoXfMgyXYGgVbRXT31DNcflfqEKGfShC0PeUt1Tk31MT8/s640/DSC00384.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next up, the elephant. Same application, same beautiful and easy results.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCRsaD8VPxJe286m8Tafmo-9s83-cXS97Ruo9xSMUpgWSVCVauFchwpJUWaddA0rJoJb6XJmLiODEQ0XiKtJIjn3f7c4eHQmv6MW5zK0t0NSqRrJMSi8FQmf4mX_xp6iOZKus9lYIkj0/s1600/DSC00387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCRsaD8VPxJe286m8Tafmo-9s83-cXS97Ruo9xSMUpgWSVCVauFchwpJUWaddA0rJoJb6XJmLiODEQ0XiKtJIjn3f7c4eHQmv6MW5zK0t0NSqRrJMSi8FQmf4mX_xp6iOZKus9lYIkj0/s640/DSC00387.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxMLNjLPlOuM7W9ZIR-JZ98c8ARog1Y1nRTFiJIdjlgHg0UVZJ-VI9Eisf4gHpGlQo31N0DagRwaQlmRBRsBPd2dSjjVNtZk-8F8DLTzi_DgLri2Sv5E_ZOv23cS4Q0GLHV5pnSWJUIw/s1600/DSC00388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxMLNjLPlOuM7W9ZIR-JZ98c8ARog1Y1nRTFiJIdjlgHg0UVZJ-VI9Eisf4gHpGlQo31N0DagRwaQlmRBRsBPd2dSjjVNtZk-8F8DLTzi_DgLri2Sv5E_ZOv23cS4Q0GLHV5pnSWJUIw/s640/DSC00388.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And who could forget about the giraffe. Sometimes they all like to hang out in the jungle together on the dining room table:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WNFZDJ5kPmDbl7n5HX-t83B7oX_IffgKL-q5Oz3_BtdoIlnfvyKOxJVbAT3a_mJcOSL2TCSybtQbX7bmFRnqYxG_n-jxiqU0VqiOQvVVnPfxxHouZuGVWYGjgGV0oObwRkkIxZP-CUo/s1600/DSC00390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WNFZDJ5kPmDbl7n5HX-t83B7oX_IffgKL-q5Oz3_BtdoIlnfvyKOxJVbAT3a_mJcOSL2TCSybtQbX7bmFRnqYxG_n-jxiqU0VqiOQvVVnPfxxHouZuGVWYGjgGV0oObwRkkIxZP-CUo/s640/DSC00390.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Don't they look fun and chic? I can see these figurines perched on bookshelves in a beautiful nursery (out of the reach of children-not sure gold leaf should be ingested), as table decor at a baby shower or just as a fun addition to a coffee table.</div>
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I found similarly painted plastic toy Elephants on Etsy for $25.00 - $33.00 each. For just a little more than $1 each, these are an easy and inexpensive DIY project to add some whimsy and fancy to a room. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part 2</span></div>
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Now, this part incorporates painting some smaller plastic toy animals with organization.</div>
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I searched for some smaller plastic toy animals and found a set of 3, white, paintable guys at a Kroger Marketplace for about $3.</div>
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While at Hobby Lobby buying the liquid gold leaf, I picked up 3 mason jars for about $2.50 each. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkGhgblaR-7ubdkSltLBMQ5Lq4bp9vqpqCLWRCW_vItDf7eOtUJiGktWSQo30ZVlc9eZX9XaruUK2A1vctzNWyJ5WPdiW-9gjEh1lMCnMVYarvue15Y6tkT_OAN-L4ebkH7lGYH3LPno/s1600/DSC00368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkGhgblaR-7ubdkSltLBMQ5Lq4bp9vqpqCLWRCW_vItDf7eOtUJiGktWSQo30ZVlc9eZX9XaruUK2A1vctzNWyJ5WPdiW-9gjEh1lMCnMVYarvue15Y6tkT_OAN-L4ebkH7lGYH3LPno/s640/DSC00368.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And also this pink spray paint on sale-30% off:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17MAoujPtC_X9uwEyJ46lTl4E6NrGLfXO3uucFDU29mVxgbyNkhMDp3cpJrJL6iSH3zLHp6h23DtK4_uMDVAwLvaffqpUxIBiAOkttwqChezrJ4ffXDyu9v9lzH-us_vRLYcX9cbuwzY/s1600/DSC00372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17MAoujPtC_X9uwEyJ46lTl4E6NrGLfXO3uucFDU29mVxgbyNkhMDp3cpJrJL6iSH3zLHp6h23DtK4_uMDVAwLvaffqpUxIBiAOkttwqChezrJ4ffXDyu9v9lzH-us_vRLYcX9cbuwzY/s640/DSC00372.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div>
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I knew I wanted a shiny gloss finish in a fun color for this DIY.</div>
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I used a hot melt glue gun to secure the mason jar seal to the metal ring. Then I placed a dot of hot melt glue on each hoof to secure one animal per jar lid.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuFvwYk4qARQflS2GSZFRHjjUcaHkctcTscF1zVfq3Om5rNxCokZ7NmMBf7LEyB6JUr-tHMmDqtQQEpV7_4c7aT0tOoLrBB9BF-2s3HYMIDVJEhvAL23uYk5ZBDrN3SISOGImlxaoNQo/s1600/DSC00377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuFvwYk4qARQflS2GSZFRHjjUcaHkctcTscF1zVfq3Om5rNxCokZ7NmMBf7LEyB6JUr-tHMmDqtQQEpV7_4c7aT0tOoLrBB9BF-2s3HYMIDVJEhvAL23uYk5ZBDrN3SISOGImlxaoNQo/s640/DSC00377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After about 2-3 coats of spray paint, we have fun organization store-all's for a kids room or your own!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGHinZHupgAX31PrOwq30m_DGlIWb8aiTgZhTl9uEJPn7HxweSkarHO2bL7V5t1o_vVWkPLepYK2pkwuXZ_kaS0kZSxrLr_cP9xvv-oQAALDLT6t2ZNwrMIgArPg9agrZ5NfV-fGE33Y/s1600/20130224_203151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGHinZHupgAX31PrOwq30m_DGlIWb8aiTgZhTl9uEJPn7HxweSkarHO2bL7V5t1o_vVWkPLepYK2pkwuXZ_kaS0kZSxrLr_cP9xvv-oQAALDLT6t2ZNwrMIgArPg9agrZ5NfV-fGE33Y/s640/20130224_203151.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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You can really choose any color you'd like. I'd recommend a high gloss paint for this glossy shine effect.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUgPAJxJkSqE83UjDDnDJ2zdBYMRtxL5OWCSm2YrX9mJtmEacBQTLPUVSfnK39EF3K-MuJmO-ogJJyv49-7PHg6W-v7Q6BYTVvZV7rEmTOkKnmy6OOyuYsw818uR30BOx57QM4PlE10Y/s1600/20130224_203202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUgPAJxJkSqE83UjDDnDJ2zdBYMRtxL5OWCSm2YrX9mJtmEacBQTLPUVSfnK39EF3K-MuJmO-ogJJyv49-7PHg6W-v7Q6BYTVvZV7rEmTOkKnmy6OOyuYsw818uR30BOx57QM4PlE10Y/s640/20130224_203202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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These are so fun for a kids room to corral anything from hair bows and ponytail holders to rubber bands and paperclips.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo556s4n3-uFvXNjuW1-j9BQsMitBr2oX_RmjdTRGfm3bS6gouIm2NLJcDaSLJm7ZC4A8Clj1Qr2ItVWHk48fFya8Vd9_B7cX1h5-ede1xzZoLptGlKhQ-o8ahdDE_3D8GqWtArT33Krg/s1600/20130224_203229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo556s4n3-uFvXNjuW1-j9BQsMitBr2oX_RmjdTRGfm3bS6gouIm2NLJcDaSLJm7ZC4A8Clj1Qr2ItVWHk48fFya8Vd9_B7cX1h5-ede1xzZoLptGlKhQ-o8ahdDE_3D8GqWtArT33Krg/s640/20130224_203229.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For about $3.50 each, these animal-topped mason jars are unique and functional. I may make myself some for the office in a glossy gold-of course.<br />
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Hope you've had a great weekend and feel inspired to go rummage through your little one's toy chests and paint some plastic animals - make sure you get their permission first!<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s1600/signature.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-51072980104634532972013-02-17T21:07:00.000-05:002013-02-17T21:53:19.167-05:00Bedroom Reveal & IKEA Dresser HackWelcome back. I hope you all had as relaxing of a weekend as we did! We have cuddled up with hot chocolate and blankets, had a dinner date with some great friends and worked around the house (of course). I was very thankful for some sunshine, yesterday, so I could get some shots of our dungeon bedroom with a small amount of natural light.<br />
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We finished up a small project yesterday in the bedroom that really isn't a big enough DIY project to even be worthy of it's own blog post! So, I've coupled it with a tour of our bedroom.<br />
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We bought a dresser from IKEA a few months ago to serve as Mr. H's bedside table. I've gone back to try and find the dresser on IKEA's website but I don't think it's available anymore so I can't give you any specifics on it's name or price (thinking we paid about $50). I really didn't like the hardware pulls on the dresser drawers so this DIY was simply changing the existing hardware.<br />
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Here's the hardware I ordered online: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH8_t9jo8g-YguuexOmPSJMOhK7KlmVKq1JjchyphenhyphenviRDSzB4_bsuWvoZN1C6koxsiCrGUFUiIqnmEsA20UKROi-ZD7k03qnmZAvepAj7nxOCADcRkmkw0X0_0f3rb5PJgpTxBRSVRps0M/s1600/DSC00339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH8_t9jo8g-YguuexOmPSJMOhK7KlmVKq1JjchyphenhyphenviRDSzB4_bsuWvoZN1C6koxsiCrGUFUiIqnmEsA20UKROi-ZD7k03qnmZAvepAj7nxOCADcRkmkw0X0_0f3rb5PJgpTxBRSVRps0M/s640/DSC00339.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the dresser mid-hardware change. You can see the horrible hardware that the dresser came with on the bottom drawer: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWucEhEdf6fjomdVJhPELDPQCLedkmvXi9mTDutNGkseUAGtOpb7IQ2BlBq_LU2kaezoL50HvwbDy8fjBwjwsvNekwUtyrw_SGUcWkXqz-Q8MEk3eFCJIEJMUbhrQGUjK6uA4qoi1cpw/s1600/DSC00332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWucEhEdf6fjomdVJhPELDPQCLedkmvXi9mTDutNGkseUAGtOpb7IQ2BlBq_LU2kaezoL50HvwbDy8fjBwjwsvNekwUtyrw_SGUcWkXqz-Q8MEk3eFCJIEJMUbhrQGUjK6uA4qoi1cpw/s640/DSC00332.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Dresser before<br />
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The new drawer pulls were about $1.50 each plus shipping. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnMYIp5caNQfhrFwN3Ld53tzYZNpOKUo8Uq6l3EaZlZVdasIJYoh6xUb3qMeNoOKR5gWEALusGNR7gWt9-GR1qr9FFr0EhSzbCJJsvNtfN90Ed2-N38Gw_cVqdNgyA-DEvk6VOpXv_Bs/s1600/DSC00350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnMYIp5caNQfhrFwN3Ld53tzYZNpOKUo8Uq6l3EaZlZVdasIJYoh6xUb3qMeNoOKR5gWEALusGNR7gWt9-GR1qr9FFr0EhSzbCJJsvNtfN90Ed2-N38Gw_cVqdNgyA-DEvk6VOpXv_Bs/s640/DSC00350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Dresser after<br />
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I am loving the antiqued brass look against the dark ebony wood. Easy, simple, IKEA dresser face lift. If you find a piece of furniture that you love but the hardware is dreadful, just remember, hardware is an easy fix.<br />
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Here are some other pics of our bedroom. Unfortunately, I don't have before pics but this bedroom has undergone a drastic transformation since my husband's bachelor days in this condo (just picture typical male dorm/fraternity room).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DqDrurBUEkQfUj8aqbxhEiEWoH0OQfcgHUsY_fSnyBTl7rhnqRcqPJ7fDepiUZth4E4gshoBSc4bjGQ1_lBlLL4FDiG8TluJmRstoWPJG-xc9nCcNsfOlwK873C3TUIQezTmsqVyzoU/s1600/DSC00345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DqDrurBUEkQfUj8aqbxhEiEWoH0OQfcgHUsY_fSnyBTl7rhnqRcqPJ7fDepiUZth4E4gshoBSc4bjGQ1_lBlLL4FDiG8TluJmRstoWPJG-xc9nCcNsfOlwK873C3TUIQezTmsqVyzoU/s640/DSC00345.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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DIY Upholstered Headboard<br />
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Our wedding photos grouped together to make a bigger impact<br />
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Love the texture the cowhide rug gives the space<br />
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Sources:</div>
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Headboard-DIY project</div>
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Bedding-Lewis Paisley by Pottery Barn</div>
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Pillows-custom made by my mom</div>
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Dark bedside table-IKEA</div>
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Mirrored bedside table-Kirklands</div>
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Lamps-Stein Mart</div>
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Picture frames-Pottery Barn</div>
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Mirrors-Garden Ridge</div>
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Chest-Home Goods</div>
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Cowhide rug-Sams Club </div>
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Paint color-"Ashes" by Behr</div>
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As you can see, this bedroom was pulled together with items from lots of different stores. I like approaching a room that way because it gives it a collected feel with more depth.<br />
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Mr H says this room is very relaxing. What do you think?<br />
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Do you prefer subtle muted colors in your bedroom sanctuary or bursts of color?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zn8unFdAnPvEq3HHUVUmVNqxhW3rQgGzPfDk4dlpRBvrd1BkEpy1CJ_Isixt_ZA1qG6eEcCDg2_f_omhyBnw2jSQyDE1IR1nMOV_3fJiXKaHpvGNEX1DI29twU3drNaIyxPDdecyqWs/s1600/DSC00365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zn8unFdAnPvEq3HHUVUmVNqxhW3rQgGzPfDk4dlpRBvrd1BkEpy1CJ_Isixt_ZA1qG6eEcCDg2_f_omhyBnw2jSQyDE1IR1nMOV_3fJiXKaHpvGNEX1DI29twU3drNaIyxPDdecyqWs/s640/DSC00365.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
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(She always has to be in the middle of projects-maybe she thinks she's helping)</div>
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See ya soon, xoxo<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s1600/signature.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216442405142988881.post-49332952490347624092013-02-16T12:51:00.000-05:002013-02-16T13:33:45.722-05:00Welcome<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, here goes nothing. I would like to introduce to you, "Bluegrass Pearls", a blog on interior design, DIY projects, cheap finds, tablescapes, and just about everything else. I toyed with several names, but this one kinda stuck on me. "Bluegrass" because I'm from the heart of the Bluegrass State, Kentucky, and "Pearls" because they are my all-time favorite fashion accessory. I also like how the title is a sort of play on words, if you will. The old saying "pearls of wisdom" could also be inferred by the title. Although I don't consider myself to be wise in the field of design/DIY, I do consider myself to be passionate with a bit of experience. Okay, enough with the name.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As this blog grows and evolves (with formatting and colors), I am very interested in hearing from my readers on what I'm doing well, what I can improve upon and what interests you. So, please comment on posts to let me know how I'm doing! I am a first-time blogger so I'll definitely be learning as I go! My vow to you is to post ideas and projects that both succeed and fail. The last thing I want is for my readers to think that all DIY and restoration projects are perfect-far from it. You win some and you definitely lose some.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Initially, until I figure out how much time I can devote to blogging, I am committing to 1 post per week. This post will likely be published on Sunday nights but I'll be sure to announce it on Facebook and other social networking until things become more consistent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you follow me on Instagram (lori_bluegrasspearls), you may have seen this picture:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOW3mxxAAf13sxepSL4IYjYqBjgkKztx-6_OdkOCmTpMMIYEcf-w0e4__19UxiM8DyT5qSsYEDDWqN4pDymOd3ST72iPHQoQ5KScRiNTs1vyNZmj_ryflAb-OqpOWb885jnu1A878tXM/s1600/IMG_20130212_184741.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOW3mxxAAf13sxepSL4IYjYqBjgkKztx-6_OdkOCmTpMMIYEcf-w0e4__19UxiM8DyT5qSsYEDDWqN4pDymOd3ST72iPHQoQ5KScRiNTs1vyNZmj_ryflAb-OqpOWb885jnu1A878tXM/s640/IMG_20130212_184741.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or, this one: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqaVJNk_tK_BE8WrGJ33FHAoJV1AnJCMErZBf0WuajgZBU8Bq6QVVW5GPyR7UuYNnlg825_p9yJILkHuplnTvyBtuM_IGP194YzLPgD9Jl8EgQ6E0wyJX-EtZG1uX8tOBxUMOxlsnVNs/s1600/20130216_124152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqaVJNk_tK_BE8WrGJ33FHAoJV1AnJCMErZBf0WuajgZBU8Bq6QVVW5GPyR7UuYNnlg825_p9yJILkHuplnTvyBtuM_IGP194YzLPgD9Jl8EgQ6E0wyJX-EtZG1uX8tOBxUMOxlsnVNs/s640/20130216_124152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Come back tomorrow for a post on an IKEA dresser hack and a bedroom reveal. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend! </span><br />
<img height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Q1u8Ngy3-YoYz31-fy2z1kpT3C8tpRxdzQBccSfuf6UUBNRziGONcjhU2USpjs7aKLSulJIZJ1r4b5VNJe7x_9XJf05eUireBLnAat_efGzFlujQlWrr4Ib_612xR0JMIB_b8RYt2k/s200/signature.png" width="200" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13447523959718673250noreply@blogger.com0