paint

I Painted our tile Backsplash, yes I Did

April 25, 2013 By Debbie Filed Under: island, kitchen, paint, projects

After adding upper cabinets in my kitchen, painting it and giving it a whole new look, I decided the gold backsplash wasn’t working. I guess I wasn’t thinking that far ahead when I was thinking about freshening up the space. I hate when that happens, don’t you? All I could think about was a shiny, new subway tiled backsplash. I love the fresh, clean look, but realized that change wasn’t going to happen soon, so I came up with plan B, my substitute for subway tile.

American Olean Subway Tile 199x300 Top Ten Kitchen Backsplashes

source Isn’t this subway tile beautiful?

upper cabinets

The gold backsplash was great with my old kitchen and really wasn’t that bad with the new look. It was the gold I wanted to be gone. You can see the previous looks of the kitchen here.

tile backsplash painted

Plan B was painting the tile. It was a quick and easy solution. I used plain old flat white paint. Because of the texture of the tile, I didn’t think a shiny finish, like subway tile, would look good.

backsplash painted

I didn’t cover every nook and cranny completely to emphasize the texture of the tile. It looks more like a whitewash.

kitchen painted backsplash 2

It really looks so much brighter.

kitchen painted backsplash

So there’s the new look! It’s working for me now. I’m almost certain that I’ll get tired of this too! Confused smile Who knows what will be trending next?

kitchen

It looks pretty with pops of bright colors.

kitchen plants

Here’s a closer look at the tile and my pretty old cheese box filled with plants. Hope I can Keep them alive!

Next up on the interior project list will be painting but that will have to wait until all my work outside is finished. I’ve been enjoying working in the garden and getting the flower beds ready for summer. The weather has been just about perfect for working outdoors and it feels great to be outside. We’ve got some power washing to do and I need to paint the shed door but it’s looking good.What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting! Debra (((xx)))

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Powder room makeover

July 31, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: decorating, paint, powder room

Another room makeover, the powder room is almost finished. We added beadboard wallpaper and painted the top Wythe blue from Benjamin Moore. It’s a great blue with a touch of green and I’m loving it. The previous version of this room had a harlequin pattern on the walls. I loved it too and was reluctant to change the walls because I painstakingly painted the pattern by hand, but after so many years you’re ready for a change

a sink 1

The vanity was black but for the redo I painted it and the frame around the mirror in Annie Sloan’s creamy white, used clear wax and distressed it just a little.

wythe blue powder room

Here’s my homemade art work and an orange thrift shop vase.

wythe blue powder room 3

For the art, or whatever you want to call it, I lucked out and found a frame in the basement that was the perfect size but it was an ugly brown. No problem, just grab a can of spray paint! DIY bloggers will spray paint anything, so don’t stand in one spot too long. Smile with tongue out

frame spray painted

I painted the frame with Rust-oleum’s aluminum knowing it would be too shiny but wasn’t sure how I was going to get the look I wanted, so I tried Annie Sloan clear wax and it worked like a charm!

FRAME

The wax rubbed off just enough of the paint and took away the shininess. You can see the shiny part on the bottom of the frame and after the wax, on the top.

frame detail

I used a waxing brush and pushed the wax into all the recesses, then rubbed over it with a soft cloth and added a little dark wax in some spots.

wythe blue powder room 2

Adding shelves over the toilet is part of the plan for this room. I’ve been looking but haven’t found anything yet. Maybe I’ll make them myself when the weather isn’t too hot to work outside. The frame sitting on the toilet is about the same color as the one I painted, it’s just waiting for me to be inspired to use it.

vintage plate

I found this old plate in the colors of the room and will display it on the shelves when I get them!

If you like Wythe blue, there’s a Pinterest board full of beautiful Wythe blue rooms.

There is only one more project to finish up now, the upper cabinets and then painting all the cabinets in the kitchen. I work on it a little at a time. Smile They just need a real good sanding, priming, doors added, painted, and the trimmed out.

Did you happen to notice something wrong in the powder room?

The chair rail is upside down. How could we be so stupid??? The chair rail in the dining room is upside down too but we didn’t install that! You know I’d love to tear it all down but…..the husband is none too keen about that! Crying face What would you do?

Thanks for visiting! Debbie (((xx)))

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Painting the powder room and decorating updates

March 1, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: decor Details, decorating, Decorative Details, paint

Remember the harlequin pattern in the powder room? It’s gone! It’s been replaced with Benjamin Moore’s Wythe blue from the same color strip as Palladian blue in their historical colors.

Harlequin powder room circa 2007. Even though painting this pattern was a lot of work, after 5 years I need a change.

I’d describe Wythe blue as green-blue-grayish.

Palladian blue is in the little hallway off the kitchen, the kitchen and family room. I’d describe it as blue-green. It looks grayish in the pictures, but it’s really not. I’m adding bead board wallpaper and chair rail in there too.

We have been painting fools around here. The ceiling in the kitchen is not done yet, but when it is, this paint party will be over for a while.

I’m waiting to get the new couch before I add much to the family room. Right now there are just a few things on the mantle.

The price for reupholstering our chairs was ridiculous, so I’m thinking about plan B, which is probably slipcovers. It’s getting there.

Soon I’ll be moving to Word Press and Google friends connect will no longer be available to WP blogs. I hope you will follow me on twitter, facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and rss feed in a reader.

Thank you! I appreciate you coming by so much!

Debbie (((xx)))

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Creating ombre dresser and shabby lampshade

February 6, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: decor Details, decorating, Decorative Details, paint, projects

Inspired by this sweet ombre dresser, I decided to makeover a little dresser that I already had. Ombre is a French term meaning shaded. It’s usually a multicolored stripe, with colors graduating from light to dark.

Norske InteriorBlogger

If you think this picture looks familiar, it’s because I posted it before in this post about painting fabric on a chair, in the green guest room makeover.

To paint the dresser, I used the same paint that I used for the chair project. In the plastic milk container is the chair paint that already had textile medium in it. I mixed up lots for the last coat, because I didn’t want to run out of paint for the chair. I used that paint, with some white latex to achieve the different shades for the dresser.

It’s not the best paint job but it still looks pretty cute.

The lampshade got a makeover too. The original shade on the lamp was a tan color and I knotted strips of plain white fabric around it. That same fabric was used to create drawer pulls. The top drawer had 4 knobs but I like this look better.

This is the inside of the shade, but I could move the knots to the outside for a different look. You can see a full tutorial here with more pictures at Emerald cove.

Tomorrow I’ll reveal the whole room redo.

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Debbie (((xx)))

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Friday feature, Favorite paint colors blog

February 3, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: friday feature, paint

Welcome to this weeks Friday feature, Favorite Paint Colors, a blog created by Kristin, a stay at home mom, to make picking out that perfect color a little less stressful. Her site is a compilation of favorite paint colors from around blog land, categorized by color and room. You’ll find painting tips and trends for interior and exterior colors.

I think this is a great idea! Even with the variance in colors on computer monitors, you can still get a feeling for how a color will look in a room.

Here are some inspiring examples.

Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams Life in Grace helps create a dreamy bedroom!

Surfer by Behr Everyday Moments is a fun color in the bathroom.

Black Fox by Sherwin Williams Hello Metro If you’ve ever wondered what black walls would look like, here you go. Paired with white, it’s a stunning sophisticated look.

Hawthorne Yellow by Benjamin Moore Chattafabulous Yellow and black have always been a favorite combo of mine.

Dunsmore Cream by Benjamin Moore The Polo House is a lovely neutral and look at that door. There’s lots of decorating inspiration at Favorite Paint Colors too.

Flagstone by Martha Stewart (Home Depot) Numbered Street Designs Grays are popular now and this gray looks so calming in the nursery. I love the pink accents.

Shutter Brown by Valspar (Lowe’s) Beneath My Heart looks lovely above the board and batten.

Glass Slipper by Benjamin Moore The Thrifty Abode is a pretty color in the bedroom, serene and quiet.

Plumage by Martha Stewart Young House Love If you like a darker blue, the colors in this bedroom are so pretty.

Benjamin Moore’s color of the year 2012, wythe blue. This is probably my favorite blue.

If you need tips for finding the right color, painting stripes or painting cabinets, you’ll find Favorite Paint Colors blog a useful tool and site for inspiration. New colors are added all the time and you can even submit a color you’ve used. I’ve pinned this site because I know I’ll refer to it often. Smile Be sure to go on over and check it out, you might want to pin it too!

With so many great blogs all over the blog-o-sphere, Friday Feature is a way to showcase other bloggers while gaining lots of decorating inspiration. If you have a project or makeover that you think is feature worthy, please email me or leave a comment.

Debbie (((xx)))

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Project board and batten/Paint colors

February 2, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: board and batten, DIY, paint, projects, projects 2012

Last year I was all set to start a board and batten project in the family room. Originally, I wanted board and batten in the small guest room but changed my mind. I posted about it Here and Here, wondering how long the trend would last.

Last winter my husband fell on ice in our driveway, had a concussion and the project was stalled. Then Summer came and he is busybusybusy, so no board and batten, until now. The cold months of winter are perfect for us to do projects, if we can manage to work together and be nice!

Good bye Laura Ashley gold, hello Benjamin Moore palladian blue.

We put up a chalk line and I started painting palladian blue on top. I always prefer greens over blues, but this color has enough green in it to keep me content.

Ultra white, in semi-gloss from Valspar, is going on the bottom.

The board, of the board and batten, will go on top of the wavy line. With the new color scheme, the gray stone fireplace is looking great.

Benjamin Moore has chosen wythe blue as their color of the year 2012. On the color strip, palladian blue is under it, and is pretty close in color to SW rainwashed and SW sea salt. Sea salt looks a little more gray in this picture.

My Mom used wythe blue and hollingsworth green in her living room. She actually marked the x and the o on the color strip. I think she would approve of my color choice.

Which color of the year do you prefer?

Tangerine tango from Pantone,

Wythe blue from Benjamin Moore or

Sherwin William’s argyle?

I’ll be posting more about our progress on this project, wish me luck!

Debbie (((xx)))

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Painting fabric on a chair Part 3

January 26, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: decor Details, decorating, Decorative Details, paint, painting fabric on a chair, projects 2012, projects crafts how to, tutorial, Uncategorized

Painting the fabric on this chair is finally finished, at least as far as I’m concerned. Some of the nap of the fabric didn’t take the paint as well as other areas. But it is about 25 years old, so I guess that’s as good as it gets. The back of the chair looks best because there wasn’t any wear on the fabric.

You can see the areas I’m referring to where the fabric is worn. I’m happy with how it looks though. It’s a great color in this green room which I’ll be sharing soon. Today I actually spray painted some accessories for the room outside, because it was so warm.

You can see I used lots of paint and textile medium!
Here’s how I did it;
first I sprayed the fabric with water to really wet it down. Next, I mixed together equal parts acrylic paint and textile medium, thinned it with water and painted the chair in many thin coats, letting it dry thoroughly before adding another coat. I sanded any spots that felt stiff or rough between coats and that really made the fabric soft.
The trim and upholstery tacks got painted too. I was going to take off the trim and add new, but decided not to in the end. I think it looks ok as it is. Painting the legs and wood trim white really makes the color pop.

Here are Part 1 and Part 2 in case you missed them.
This is the basic tutorial from Kristy at Hyphen Interiors, that I used and there are lots of examples of painted fabric and tips on this site.
So to sum it up I’d say, it’s ok for an accent chair in a guest room, but probably wouldn’t work on a full room of furniture or a chair that you like to curl up in. That’s just my opinion.
Smile
When this room is finished I’m going to move right along to the next project; it might be board and batten, bead board wallpaper, plank ceiling or painting the kitchen, family room and powder room. I’m an a roll!

Added to Hooking up with House of Hepworths
Debbie (((xx)))

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Would you paint this antique?

January 24, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: antique, paint

This antique tiger oak buffet is a piece I’m contemplating painting with Annie Sloan chalk paint. It needs some re-gluing here and there, but other than that, it’s in great shape. I think I paid about $450. for it at a public auction years ago.

Ignore the mess, this is in the guest room I just painted.

I found this at Lyons Head Antiques; Tiger oak is also called quartersawn oak. The wider the grain the older the wood. For most furniture made in the late 1800s, the wood was more than 100 years old at the time it was harvested. Most of these pieces date from the Victorian era through the Arts and Crafts movement.

I’m thinking if I paint it, it’s value will lower, but that only matters if I want to sell it. What do you think? I know some purists would never paint it, I dunno…

Debbie (((xx)))

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Painting fabric on a chair, Part 2

January 19, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: decor Details, decorating, paint, painting fabric on a chair, projects crafts how to, tutorial

Part 1 is HERE if you missed it. The chair after 2 coats of paint has streaks that I’m hoping will disappear after more coats. The fabric has some spots where the nap was worn down and I’ve tried sanding, but that didn’t help, but sanding does a great job of softening the fabric.

I sand like an obsessed person after each coat of paint is dry and it’s only those few arrow marked spots that give me problems. The raised spots with rough fabric are harder to paint. I don’t know what caused the fabric to be like that.

Several coats of paint later and this is how she looks. The paint is wet, that’s why it looks blotchy. I’m going to paint the wood white.

Here’s the fabric on the back of the chair. You can see how nice the nap is, and it’s soft.

I think I’m going to like it, flaws and all, just because she’s so pretty!

This little dresser is getting a makeover too. Maybe an ombre pattern like this cute little dresser.

Source: norskeinteriorblogger.blogspot.com via Bungalow on Pinterest

While working on this room I got sidetracked working on 2 projects in the basement. More about that later, nothing décor related, mostly maintenance and housekeeping

The chair is getting there! Yeah

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A Shaklee giveaway is going on in the previous post. Don’t miss it!

Debbie (((xx)))

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Painting fabric on a chair, Part 1

January 10, 2012 By Debbie Filed Under: decorating, Decorative Details, paint, painting fabric on a chair, projects, projects 2012, projects crafts how to, tutorial

Painting fabric is something I always wanted to do. I’ve seen gorgeous examples on Pinterest and knew I had to try. This chair from my grandmother is the perfect chair to try it on. It’s a chair that I always sat in at her house. At the time it was covered in a textured orange vinyl. After she gave it to me I had it recovered in gold velvet, in the 80’s.

Even after years in the basement, the chair is in good shape with just a few stains and nicks in the wood.

You’ll need textile medium, paint, fine sandpaper, a spray bottle of water and brushes. I’m using acrylic paint but you could use latex too.

I bought all the bottles of My Studio acrylic paint in aqua that were in the store and will be looking for more I’m sure. Mix up equal parts of paint and textile medium and thin with water to make it really thin.

First you vacuum the chair well.

Next, using the spray bottle of water, liberally spray the area you’ll be painting and then just do it. I used a foam brush.

I got the back of the chair painted today and will post the progress as I go along. For the next coat of paint I’m going to try a paint brush instead of a foam brush to see if that makes any difference. I’m not sure yet how I want to handle the tacks. Wish me luck on this one, it’s not looking so pretty at this point. Have you got any tips for painting fabric?

In case you’re wondering where this bright chair will go, in my newly painted green guest room, see post below.

Debbie (((xx)))

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painting woes and yardsale prep

May 11, 2011 By Debbie Filed Under: paint, yardsale

Did you ever start painting a room and realize the color was wrong? I think we all did at least once. Picking that perfect color is hard.

I tried painting my living room with paint I already had that I really thought would work. But while I was putting it on the walls I kept thinking it was going too be too light, so I stopped painting and decided to see how it looked in different lights after it dried.

I didn’t like it!

What was supposed to be a creamy color similar to Believable Buff by Sherwin Williams was too white and looked stark and cold. So off I went to get the real thing.

At the paint store the clerk didn’t even have to look up the formula. He said he knew the formulas for all the colors on that strip. Antique white, believable buff and whole wheat are some of the most popular colors! But bloggers already knew that, huh? (It’s about time that companies start to realize the powerful influence of blogs.)

He said Latte is a hugely popular color lately and he doesn’t remember when he mixed up a gallon of dark red. We all had to have that dark red room just a few years ago. Confused smile

Anyhow, stripping down my living room and deciding to get rid of stuff like this huge picture is a hard task . Lately my garage looks like an episode of Hoarders. I have a tendency to keep things thinking I can make them over. Is that possibly how my basement got to be full of stuff? Ya think!

If you’re near, stop on over. The whole town is having yardsales, bake sales and sidewalk sales. Don’t you just love this time of year! I’m usually out there looking for treasures but this year I’m feeling the need to purge.