Fun with Chairs

I just wanted to share a couple of changes going on around our crazy home!

 

Not too long ago, I shared a picture of two beautiful French Country chairs that I was thrilled to finally find!  I got them at a very reasonable price because they weren't stained or painted ... that was going to be *my* job (eek)!

 

 

Sooo, I removed the seats, got out my AS Pure White and clear wax and went to town painting, distressing (just a tad) and waxing.  I then stained the seats with two coats of American Walnut and then added two coats of polycrylic (so that they match our new table that I look forward to showing you).  Here's what they look like today (and, something tells me that I'll be adding a coat of a different paint color on top sometime):

 

 

The other little change is going on in our dining room.  You may remember that I shared this fun, French script fabric with you all:

 

 

Our six dining chairs have since been recovered (thanks to my sweet neighbor, Christy), and now, they look like this:

 

 

LOVE! 

 

I can't wait to share more with you all ... thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Becca

And, We're Off ...

Okay, soooo .... a show of hands please as to how many of you are staring at your empty mantels right this very moment, with that *glazed over* look in your eye, agonizing over how you're going to decorate it for Fall this year? 

 

Well, that was me last week ... actually, even as I took these pictures.  Second guessing ... moving leaf no. 14 to the right just a tad ... tilting one pumpkin just 1/8" more to the left ... you know how it goes!

 

This is where it stands for now ... I thought I'd share before I change it all over again.

 

 

This year, I really wanted to add lots of pops of vibrant orange:

 

 

Michael's had just what I was looking for as far as simple, yet colorful branches.  Thankfully, they finally went on sale (40% off).  And, as a side note ... for those of you with smart phones ... did you know that there is an app for Michael's?  You simply load the app and whenever you're at Michael's, open the app, select coupon, and the clerk will scan the barcode appearing on your screen.  It's awesome and saves you from having to look out for coupons in your mail or newspaper or hoping that one of the staff members will be kind enough to give you one!

 

 

Baby pumpkins, acorns, leaves and pinecones are having fun all mixed together in this glass apothecary (all of which I had on hand):

 

 

I grabbed up this simple platter at Wal-Mart ... love their Better Homes and Gardens seasonal pieces!

 

 

Making a return appearance for the 3rd year in a row is the garland I made out of wooden craft beads ... I just couldn't leave it in the storage box until next year:

 

 

One of our colorful pumpkins sits comfortably on a "bed" of burlap, tucked in an urn I had on hand, as well:

 

 

The one thing that I did splurge on was this pretty Fall artwork that I stumbled up at Tuesday Morning.  It was just what I was looking for to serve as a focal point.

 

 

Annnnd, down below, I found this sweet ladderback chair at a local consignment shop for $10(!), and I didn't even have to paint it.  Will I sit on it?  Um, probably not because the chair will crumble beneath me, BUT, it serves as the perfect spot to rest a couple of seasonal pillows, pumpkin and throw:

 

 

Speaking of pumpkins, I knew I wanted to add a few more in a basket to the hearth, but, nothing I had on hand was large enough.  Of course, Home Goods came to the rescue ... isn't this a fun, metal basket?  Love the vintage feel and burlap liner!

 

 

And, there you have it.  I do love our little Fall mantel for now ... especially the ambiance the lights give off in the evening:

 

 

I can't wait to see everyone else's mantels!

I'm off to party with:

2805/Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
From My Front Porch to Yours/Treasure Hunt Thursday
Kristen's Creations/Share your Creations
Funky Junk Interiors/SNS
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures
Savvy Southern Style/WUW
Stone Gable Cottage/Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits
52 Mantels/Thursdays Are Your Days
Centsational Girl/Autumn Mantels Link Party
Fox Hollow Cottage/Octoberfest Mantel Party
 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Becca

Snippets of Fall

Well, it's official ... summer went by *way* too quickly!  I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  A big group of about 35 of us went camping ... and, by camping, I mean either in RVs, Campers or, in our case, an air conditioned cabin.  We had such a great time!

 

Now that September is here, Fall decorating is in full swing ... bright shades of orange are taking over!

 

with peeks of white pumpkins here and there ...

 

and of course, a few feathers ...

 

I've done something different with my annual Fall family tree!

Whimsical subway art peeking through ...

All the while remembering what the season (and every day) is about:

 

I'll be back to share more as soon as the tweaking is done ... look forward to seeing your touches of Fall!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Becca

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