A Simple Project

Earlier this summer, I found this pretty *vintage* planter at TJMaxx.  While the color was a lovely light shade of lime, I'm afraid it just wasn't working for me, BUT, the price was right, and I knew that I could have a bit of fun with it.   

 

Finally, this past weekend, I got to play with it!  Out came my sample jars of CeCe Caldwell's Seattle Mist, AS Old White and AS Pure White.  I then chose a simple, French image from the fabulous Graphics Fairy, and, once the paint was dry, transferred the image to the front of the planter.  Of course, I then had to rough it up a bit after it dried with fine sandpaper:

 

 

Here is the AFTER!  I added a little burlap, pinecones and few seasonal picks to create a fun, Fall arrangment, which now sits on our dry bar!

 

 

Total cost for this project was $0.00(!), as I had everything I needed on hand!  Aren't those the best kind?

Thanks for stopping by!

Becca

Adding Character

When we added the butcher block top to our island almost two years ago, the installer recommended that we add corbels for support.  I thought it would be fun to add farmhouse legs instead ... two years later, we FINALLY did it!

I found a great website, Osborne Wood Products ... they have several kinds of fabulous products at very reasonable prices!  I found just the style/size we wanted, and a few days later they arrived!

All I had to do was paint a coat of AS Old White, followed by two coats of AS Chateaux Grey onto each leg ... added a bit of distressing and a layer of clear wax.  I then wedged them up under the butcher block ... added a bit of hot glue in between the legs and the butcher block top to secure them ... and, voila!

AFTER! 

We love the character they add and how they contribute to the farmhouse feel!

It's hard to believe that our island once looked like *this*:

Speaking of changes ... we're just about done with the kitchen refreshing!  AND, I've got a few little things planned for our breakfast area.  For a long time, I've wanted French Country chairs, but the prices have been a bit more than we wanted to spend.  This past weekend, we visited a fabulous store nearby called Primarily Pine ... they had EXACT chairs I've been looking for!  They're unfinished (which saved on the cost) ... all I have to do is stain the seats (Walnut) and paint the chairs either AS Old White or Pure White. Aren't they pretty?

I'm envisioning a farmhouse table, these chairs and parsons chairs at the head of the table.  We'll see how it all turns out!

One more project ... what do you think of this French fabric?!  I'm eventually going to add them to our dining room chairs. 

Just another day in my crazy life!  Happy Sunday, friends!

Thanks for stopping by,

I'm linking up with:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW
 

 

Becca

Question of the Day

How is it that this little project ...

turns into this project ...

which turns into *this* project (I mean, it IS only natural for you to stop in the middle of painting to clean your cabinets out):

which then leads me here?  LOL.  If you know the answer, I'm all ears!

I can't wait to share my craziness that's been going on in the kitchen!

How many projects are *you* in the middle of today?

Becca

Before It's Over ...

I wanted to share our *summer* great room!  Annnd, to show a subtle change done earlier this summer.

Below is how our great room looked last Fall ... can you spot the little difference between then and now?  Yes, we lightened the walls ... yippee! 

We (meaning, I) decided to paint the walls the same color as our dining and sitting rooms, which is BM's Manchester Tan.  Since our home is one big open floorplan, I thought it'd be a nice change to have them all the same color so that one room would flow into the other.  We're enjoying the change and will soon be carrying the same wall color into our kitchen/breafkast room, as well!

While we're in here, I'll show you around our *summer* great room.  First stop, the buffet:

A small demijohn from TJMaxx:

A tall, inexpensive lamp and fun, vintage boat (both from Home Goods):

A rustic anchor and oversized lantern frommmmm ... you guessed it, Home Goods! 

Of course, in keeping with the nautical theme, I simply *had* to wrap the base of the candle with nautical rope, add a small starfish and layer a sea fan behind:

Up above, I found this beautiful piece of art at Home Goods (last year) and was glad I finally found a fun spot to hang it ... I love the serene feel and soothing colors in it:

Come on over and sit a spell (if you can find some room in between the pillows)!

Pillow covers (from Pottery Barn) are pretty popular in our home.  I love being able to change out the covers to suit the season!

A simple vignette sits on the coffee table ... hmmm, *who* emptied the decanter?  Oops:

On our mirrored tables sit the brown lamps that were once on our dining room sideboard.  And, an inexpensive pot filled with faux fern leaves serves as a easy filler for that spot, too:

Sp-EAKING of lamps, this little diddy by the sofa got a little makeover (pictured from last Fall):

No surprise that a bit of leftover Annie Sloane's Old White made its way over the gold:

Lastly, our summer, nautical mantel, which I already shared, but, since it's getting ready to lose its summer look, I thought I'd show it one last time:

I can't believe that in a few, short weeks, I'll be decorating for Fall, will you?!  In the meantime, I've gotten myself in a bit of trouble in the kitchen ... it's going to take awhile (along with pleading with talented neighbors for their carpentry skills since both John and I aren't doing too well in that department), BUT, I know I'm going to love the results ... stay tuned!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Becca

Thanks Again, BHG.com!

Happy Monday, friends!  I cannot believe that we're already at the end of July!  As much as I love Fall, I don't want summer to end just yet.

Speeeeeaking of Fall ... I was be-YOND flattered (and dumbfounded) when the kind folks at Better Homes and Gardens recently contacted me to see if they could include another Fall mantel of ours as part of this year's Fall Mantel Decorating Ideas feature on their website! 

Here's our mantel from last year and what BHG.com had to say:

Welcoming Fall Mantel

"Becca (adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com) combined rustic and vibrant elements on her fall mantel, using a metal-and-wrought-iron frame as a focal point for her design. A vintage wooden pheasant figurine, a red fall sign, and small gourds placed under a glass cloche to give her mantel pops of color. Creamy pumpkins, candles, and burlap-wrapped pitcher add to the design, and a garland made from fall-hue wooden beads strung together on picture wire adds a fun layer. The mantel gains a welcoming glow with light-up branches placed in a pitcher alongside faux florals, natural branches, and feathers."

I'm like a proud Mom seeing our little mantel included on their website! When you have a moment, you should take a peek at the other mantels they featured (click here) ... they are fabulous!  And, I'm sure you'll recognize quite a few of them!  Yes, I'm truly humbled to be in their company.

So, again, thank you, BHG.com ... I'm not worthy, but sincerely appreciative!

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Becca

Free Shopping!

Happy Sunday!  It's that time again for "Let's Switch Things Up a Bit!" 

Today's victim ... the dining room:

Newly painted lamps (AS Old White) that used to be green and in the great room now give the buffet a lighter look:

A blue runner flew on over to the buffet ... it not only serves as a fun pop of color to contrast with our white pieces, but also helps to tie in with the blue plates on the shelves:

It's fun to shop your house to create new vignettes, isn't it?

This glass cloche filled with yummy "faux" cheese, grapes and corks traveled on over from the dry bar in the breakfast area:

... the engraved cheese knives from PB are still one of my faves:

Over on the table, painted candlesticks (AS Old White) ...

A dainty pitcher filled with faux florals:

annnnd, a fleur-de-lis dish:

help to create another simple vignette:

I suppose the *only* drawback to shopping your house is that it leaves lots of empty spaces that need to be filled in in other places ... oops!  Time to shop the house some *more* I suppose ... what a vicious fun cycle!

Sooo, just which rooms are *you* shopping today?!

Thanks for stopping by,

I'm linking up with: 

DIY by Design/Sizzle into Summer
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
Thistlewood Farms/All About Color

Becca

I love Rum Cake!

Happy Friday !!

I'm keeping this short and sweet, but wanted to share something that we've wanted to do for a long time ... we *finally* got new carpet! 

BEFORE:  Not *too* bad ... in PICTURES!  But, up close ... it had a much different story to tell!  Trust me!

DURING:  Goodbye boring, flat builder-grade carpet filled with pet stains, kiddo stains, food/drink stains annnnd, yes, paint stains (not to mention lots of pink undertones, which I never truly noticed until after seeing this picture)!  

AFTER:  Well, hello Mohawk SmartStrand Silk "Rum Cake" carpet!  The fine folks from Lowe's installed it for us, and we couldn't have been more pleased with the installers' promptness, skill and professionalism.

I LOVE how lush and semi-shaggy this carpet is ... the padding is nice and thick, too!  Our Dyson is not quite sure what to do with carpet that it doesn't glide over ... it actually has to work now!  LOL 

We also had Jax's bedroom and "guest room turned playroom" done in this carpet, as well.  Our 4th bedroom (which is John's office) is hardwood.  Yes, this was definitely a "why didn't we do this years ago" project !!  I'm sure many of  you have those types, as well!

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm going to go roll around some more on the new carpet!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by,

Becca