Living room reveal (sort of)

As I've mentioned before, we moved in with the intention of being here for only four months and we decided to make do with what we had. Which was basically nothing. But when we moved into our house it was literally zero degrees outside. So maybe now you can understand why we didn't move in much at all.

Here's how it looked right when we moved in. I'm sort of embarrassed to show these pictures.

This is a bad view of the kitchen table. But you get the idea. 

Anyways, here's how it looks now. Keep in mind it's a major work in progress but so much more functional! (not to mention extremely comfortable)

We got our couch this morning! It fits perfectly in this corner.

Sorry for all of the pictures, I am just a little bit obsessed. For once we can have friends over to watch a movie and Tom and I don't have to sit on the floor!

Our ottoman was once a $7 table from Ikea that I added some foam to and then wrapped with fabric.

And the full view from the front door

To do:

Get a sectional

Sell old sofa

Get a new t.v. stand that is multi-functional

Gallery wall

Paint all interior doors black

Get a desk to go under front window

I didn't show you part of the room on purpose. Our old sofa is sitting there and it's not a pretty sight. When it is sold and I replace it with a desk, I will show you that wall :)

Emerald Dresser - How to paint laminate the easy way

So when we moved in to our house we were planning on being here for only 4 months (our place is only month to month rent luckily) Before we got married, I refinished this top of a hutch and decided to use it as a bookshelf/tv stand.  It wasn't ideal but for our 4 month situation we wanted to move in as little furniture as possible. Well, now we are here long term and I get to have the furniture I want. So very slowly but surely, I'm redoing furniture to be as cost effective as possible.

It is a lot taller and more awkward than it looks here, I promise.

After hours of searching our local classifieds I found this pretty thing for only $25. I arranged to go pick it up the next day and brought it home.

It was in a lot worse shape than I had expected from the picture online but I figured that's nothing a little wood filler couldn't fix.

A lot of the drawers were missing corners.

So I used wood filler to rebuild the corners and then once it dried I sanded them down.

Here is the base as it is drying.

And here it is complete!  I have been wanting a pop of color in my living room and what better than the pantone color of the year!? Emerald green it is.

(It is missing one of the gold trim pieces which I have yet to replace, but here it is anyways)

You wanna know how I did it?

(I spray painted the original hardware gold. One day I will replace it but for now I am on the lookout for a good deal)

First I rolled on 2 coats of Behr Precious Emerald.  Since the dresser is laminate I made sure I used the primer+paint.  This way you can skip the priming step and just go straight to the color without worrying about the paint peeling off.

While they were mixing my paint, I had them mix me a sample size of Behr Billiard Table (also in paint+primer)  When the 2 coats of the Emerald were dry, I mixed about a tablespoon of the Billiard Table with about a tablespoon of water.  I used a rough brush to brush on a light layer.  Because of the water, it dries in a light, streaky fashion and just adds some depth to the green.

After that was dry, I rolled on 2 layers of Polyurethane for protection.

I used high gloss so it still has that shiny finish.

Here it is again: 

Before:

And After:

It wasn't bad before but I love the pop of color this adds to my living room now.  Not to mention the NINE drawers of extra storage!!!!

What do you think? Would you go green?

p.s. we ordered a couch yesterday. It should be delivered tomorrow! I am SO EXCITED!!!! Our living room is really coming along.

Just some inspiration

I love a good inspiration post.  Here are some design pics that I love and hope to incorporate in my home one day.

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I love "x" benches. Especially under a console like this in a bright pop of color.

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Are you a fan of open shelving in the kitchen?  I really like the idea but I feel with my organizational skills they would most likely be a jumbled mess a lot of the time.

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Everything about this.  I just want this in my living room. Right now. Zebra taxidermy? Can it get any more exotic and beautiful?

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I love the industrial look of this coffee table. Especially when offset with pretty feminine details. 

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How about this moody kitchen? I don't think I would ever have the courage to paint my entire kitchen this dark but man is it beautiful.

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And this pretty gallery wall. I love a good gallery wall.  Currently working on one in my living room.

Which of these would you like in your home?

Fourth of July

So sorry for the silence the last 2 days! With the Fourth we left our computer behind and celebrated non stop with family and friends! Here are a few pics of our holiday. And by a few, I mean we literally took maybe 10 pictures the whole two days.

We were the crazy people who brought our dog to fireworks.  Never. again. Poor thing loved them at first and then she was terrified of them and panicked the whole time they were going off.

She started getting annoyed with the flash and hid behind me.

Right before she started freaking out

After all the floats come through the parade they have a water section. Firetrucks and huge construction trucks come through and just spray the crowd, kicking off a HUGE water fight.  It looks like a ton of fun but we always book it before the water begins. (can you see the trucks spraying water?)

Probably my favorite part of the day: We got to sit with cute Iz for fireworks! (she's not a fan of pics and tried to turn away right as the flash went off) She made them exciting with her "Oh wow" after the ones the thought were pretty. I've always loved fireworks but watching them with her made them even better.

And this is me just torturing poor Stella. She was so annoyed with me. 

How was your Fourth?  I'm kinda sad Tom and I didn't even take a picture together this year. I guess that's what happens when you're not putting together a wedding video anymore.

And this week I have been working on a big project! I can't wait until it's done. Hopefully I will be able to post it tomorrow :)

4th of July String Art!

Have you guys seen string art? I have been seeing different versions all over the internet and I have always loved it but the versions I have seen are usually made with nails hammered into a board- too much work for me.  So when I was at the craft store I had this brilliant idea to just use sewing pins and posterboard!

 What you will need:

Foam core posterboard (I found a pack of two 9"x12" for $5) 

Some string of your color choice (I chose red embroidery thread)

Sewing pins ( I used 1/2" gold pins)

Scissors

A printed outline of the U.S.

I centered the map and taped it to the board.  In hindsight, I wish I would have cut out the map and then taped it because getting the map off while leaving the pins in was really time consuming.

Push in the pins all around the outline of your shape.  You can do them close together or further apart depending on how much time you want to spend.

I tied the string to one of the pins, cut off the end, and started wrapping... and wrapping... and wrapping....

Until I had this!!

Isn't it a simple but fun decoration for July?

I have a lot of blue decorations on my shelves so the red really compliments them.  This would work for any shape. I have seen it done with hearts, states, the possibilities are endless!

I can't believe the 4th of July is in just 2 days!! It is my favorite holiday! We fill our day with a parade (that turns into a water fight when the firetrucks come through at the end), carnivals, swimming, barbecues and end with fireworks! I can hardly wait. Do you have any fun traditions?

Bathroom Shelves

My bathroom has been a bit of a problem since we moved in.  It is literally too small to fit both of us at the same time. Luckily I get ready in my bedroom or we'd be in trouble :) So far the small size hasn't been an issue, but the storage space has.  Here it is when we moved in.  I bought a clear little organizer from Target to put under the counter and that has been a life saver.

Sorry for the poor pictures, there are no windows in there and getting a good angle is next to impossible.  We also only have one small closet in our bedroom and I have been keeping our clean towels at the top but it is a pain to be in the shower and realize the only clean towels are in the bedroom.  So I have been wanting to add storage.

Tip: cut tape the same length as the nail holes.

Put tape on wall (keep it level) screw in at ends of tape. 

So much better than guessing!! And you can use the same piece of tape for every shelf you hang.

I got these floating shelves at Ikea for about $7 each. I originally wanted to hang baskets but finding sturdy, decently priced, perfect sized ones proved harder than I thought.  I'm glad I ended up with the shelves because I could hang them as far apart as I wanted, fitting more or less on the shelves.

This is a glass shelf I got at Ikea when we first moved in.  (there is NO counter space) It is the perfect width to hold our sonicares and Tom's razor without being in the way. Notice how our mirror is hung wayyy off center, almost to the edge of the counter?? (really, I would like to have a conversation with whoever built our house) I bought that square mirror next to it in a 4pack at Ikea.  I hung one at the end of our shower so Tom can shave in it and wash down the hair when he was done. I got sick of wiping the counter/floor down all the time. With three left, I decided to hang one that is actually above the sink and it really does help make the room look bigger!

And now I have room for some pretty little decorations too. 

I put my qtips and cotton rounds in an empty mason jar on one of the shelves.

Okay, so one more time. 

Before:

After:

I am SO happy with the extra storage space.

Now I have room in my closet for other things!

I had some fun making a wreath the other day.  I will be showing this tutorial soon!!