Sunday, July 31, 2011

Bathroom Update...

I want to apologize because I have been a bloggin slacker these last couple of days....

I want to blame it on the construction...

or the fact that we leave for Lake Placid in an hour or so...

or the plain and simple fact that I have been a little crazy with life...

BUT REALLY

There is NO excuse...so I'm sorry...

before we leave I wanted to finish these chairs that it seems like I have been working on forever....oh wait, I have!!!!

I just didn't get to them, and honestly it happens sometimes...life gets in the way

so here is the bathroom update...

fingers crossed that when we get home we will have a working shower....

painting will be done and if all goes well (but you know how home improvement projects go) we will have two fully functioning and pretty much finished bathrooms...

YEAH!!!

here is the "kids" bathroom so far...

 No the vanity is NOT staying there....just a minor hiccup along the way....
"keep calm, and carry on"

 a huge gorgeous closet....

new and improved tub...look NO pink....


this is the floor in this bathroom....this picture isn't the best but I LOVE IT...

AND OURS....

 pictures don't do this shower justice....it's so much bigger and nicer than we had before...

our toilet and vanity will go here...

this is a view of our floor....I LOVE...

and pocket doors to increase space EVERYWHERE....


PS
Yesterday I linked up to
Furniture Feature Fridays
ANYWAY

"WE DON NOT REMEMBER THE DAYS,
WE REMEMBER THE MOMENTS"

Thursday, July 28, 2011

A great little get away...

We went to visit some friends who have some property on a nearby lake....

They have just recently built a carriage house...

a three car garage and an apartment above it...

I wanted to share some pics of their pad because I love the rustic charm...
and check out this amazing lamp...



My friend did such a great job designing everything from doors to floors...


I love her lighting choices and the coziness she achieved in her open space....


She added such great architectural detail with the open stained beams contrasting the natural wood...
and this amazing lofted area....

wouldn't ya know she bought a piece for the house and I DIDN'T take a picture????

I was so excited to share her design that I forgot about my own????

OH WELL, the bathroom is coming along and I will share updated pics in a few, until then....

"Use what talents you possess: the world
would be very silent if no birds sang
except those who sang best"

 A little bit of inspiration, go follow your dream, or just share it with the world....
PS
Go check these blogs out for more DIY inspiration...
I linked up with

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

and

Beyond The Picket Fence



Monday, July 25, 2011

Why Re-Purpose????

Why buy re-purposed????

Well to start....it's green....

I love the idea of helping out the planet, reuse something rather than waste...


I am one of those people who wraps up a half eaten PBJ....for later

Another reason is that old furniture is so well made and beautiful....


so often, furniture today, isn't made the way it used to be...

and on that same idea...Repurpsed furniture is one of a kind, it's an original piece of artwork...

everything these days is massed produced...don't get me wrong I LOVE Pottery Barn..

but I like it when it's mixed in with unique one of a kind pieces....

Another reason is....
It is usually less expensive to add a little bit of paint than buy a whole new piece of furniture..
WHO doesn't love to save money????



And one of my favorite reasons is because it tells a story...

maybe it was passed down a family line...

maybe you found it at a garage sale and fixed it up with your dad....

maybe it was your child's...and even though they are all grown up... you can change it and it's like they are still here...

I love the idea of taking something with solid bones and sprucing it up a little to fit your own personal style...

What do you have that can tell a story or can be repurposed....

All these pieces are made by me, most of them in my own home and each has a story...
 PS
I linked up to...

The Girl Creative

Making

all crafts Homemade Projects ~ Add Yours {7/26}

Friday, July 22, 2011

A space to call home...

I wanted to share some pics of furniture that you have seen before, but in a new space....

A comfy space....

A space to call home....

A customer sent me pictures of furniture that I have painted, comfy and cozy in their "new" home, what do you think????

Remember this mirror....



and how about this black bench????




All put together in her entry way....

Just some pics and ideas....

Don't you just love her style????

Please feel free to send me pictures of pieces I have painted all comfy in your own home...

I would love to share, if you don't mind....

Some Exciting News for Classically Hip Designs...

You can purchase my furniture at La Moda Lisa

AND NOW


It is beautiful inside, go check it out and
they have a website with furniture to browse and buy...

PS
I have linked up to ....

Furniture Feature Fridays

Please feel free to share or "like" on facebook....
thanks....


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

French curves....

Classy, leggy, curvy. and unique....

of course I'm talking about the new "old" table I just finished....

who wouldn't love her????



I love the cottage grey color ...


the distressing and natural crackling...


I even made frenchy inspired knobs to complete the look...


let me know if you need a side table
or
a bedside table
or
an accent table...

she is for sale....

Here is the Before...





I made the knobs with a little bit of this....



and I did it like this...





hope everyone is staying cool...

Monday, July 18, 2011

We watched this movie last night called The Adjustment Bureau,

it was an interested concept....

we all have a path in life.....

and this "higher" bureau decided and adjusted as needed to make sure we follow the "right" path in life....

it was kind of destiny meets free will....

I LOVE that concept...

I always think about that....

what SHOULD I be doing
VS.
what feels right to be doing or what do I think makes me happy... or what COULD I be doing....


It is hard when there are soooo many choices out there...

you know what I mean,
what brand of ketchup do I buy,
what faucet should I pick out for our kitchen and in what color,
what dress should I buy for the wedding...

we all are in these situations everyday...

but what is the right path, what is the right answer????

It hits home when I think about my career...

I love painting and repurposing furniture....I am passionate about it.... I love it
but is that enough...

I am SUPPOSED to be a teacher....

and I am on a very part time basis....

WE all have choices to make in life and we all want to be on the right path...

I think the first thing is to know what you want, envision the end product or path...

the outcome you REALLY want and forge a path to get there...

some of the time there will be speed bumps and trust me, you will be nervous and make mistakes
but
if you continue to choose that path, eventually you will end up at your destination...

If you are thinking about starting your own business or changing careers...
take a risk....

You only have one life to live and no one is going to live it for you....

So here I am taking a risk....and lucky you....you are here for the ride!!!





Friday, July 15, 2011

How could you not be inspired....

I started the morning by posting some furniture to craigslist, putting a coat of paint on a piece of furniture and then linking up to Miss Mustard Seeds furniture feature Friday....

Upon doing so I had to check out the amazing talent of some of these bloggers....

It is CRAZY...

Not only do I love to check out their furniture for inspiration but their blogs are amazing...

they have all these buttons that link to places and comments galore....

these women certainly do have talent....you should check them out too!!!

Some of my favorites from Miss Mustard Seeds furniture feature Friday are...

This great little coffee table by Red Hen Home....

French typography table
http://redhenhome.blogspot.com/2011/07/postcard-table.html

And I love how they put their name in their pictures...is that a photoshop thing????

How about this one....

I love the design and of course I LOVE turquoise..


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVuDzLfHFiZOo5tWbdyQIc_XQubLsDCEGocaSVmJt6eHaSnFlUktRhz_V-Bm1mJPKkC4YOcaRQJL9FZ-Qyqe9f0AX65QGT1pZ0HWJwE7Oubk54xM01kcoAhbCF2_YlRNAz4-98frCHsY/s1600/Turquoise+and+White+Dresser+After+4.JPG

And this one was from last week but I can't help but be jealous of this girls talent....I love this room and her bench....

check out her blog....Less than perfect life of bliss
http://lessthanperfectlifeofbliss.blogspot.com/2011/07/this-bench-speaks-french.html

So I wanted to end sharing a trick I learned from another blog along the way (not sure which one, it was a while ago...) it's a great way to paint hardware....



stick them in styrofoam and paint away...

PS
I did link up to...

Have a super weekend....

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

A great little foot stool and a pair of chairs....

I will admit, our bathroom redo has me all sorts of disorganized...

worse than I had imagined...

But..

I am tyring to be patient,  although if you have read this blog before, you know that it's NOT one my strongest attributes....but I am tyring.

Anyway.....the walls are framed out, the insulation is partly in and LOTS of the plumbing and electrical are done....so yeah!!!!

PROGRESS

I finally finished the stool and decided on a fabric and trim...




I was going to trim it out with nail heads but I am really pleased with the softness of the white trim...

It is for sale and ....

It works well with dark furniture....



and light....



I am also working on two club chairs with rattan sides...


I have one totally ripped apart and ready to start to sand and prime it...


I really LOVE these chairs, I might even keep them, but we will see....

so while my garage looks like this....




I will try to
"keep calm and carry on"