My Chippy Vintage Mantel Makes The Move To a More Colorful Locale

A few months ago I did a radical makeover of a chippy vintage mantel.  I revealed the mantel in the post entitled, A Transformed Vintage Mantel Finds A Home in My Master Bedroom.  You can click on the title to see the full transformation.  Just after I completed this project, something happened...we decided to move.

It was a strange feeling seeing so many of my projects get left behind, like the neat Master Bathroom Renovation and the cool White Shutters that I made for that room.  But, for the most part, all my projects and furniture came along for the ride.  On move in day at the new house, each piece was placed in a new location, but the mantel just didn't have a place.  So it sat in a hallway between my garage door and our family room.  It was awkward there.  Even my sister expressed how much she hated it in the hallway.   When my sister says something like that, I know it is time to make a change!  She's the boss around here.

It took me a few days of carting the darn thing all over to figure out where to place it.  Then I tried something a little crazy.  I added to the master bedroom "foyer" area.  It fit perfectly and helped give this tiny pass through space a little presence.  I added a few things, like one of my red ladder back dining chairs with a pillow and a vintage #5 jug with a small live plant on the mantel.

It's funny how something that is designed for one location can work in a completely different place.  The previous room was pale yellows and whites.  Now the mantel is sitting within a very colorful locale. I am sure that I will be re-decorating this spot.  But for now, I'm okay with it.  I think it works wonderfully.  What do you think??

This tiny foyer to the bedroom is just off the White Living Room that I blogged about just a few days ago.  I love the transition of fresh whites to bright colors.

It almost beckons one to enter to see what is beyond the doorway.

-The End-
Linking to:
Show and Tell Friday: My Romantic Home
Savvy Southern Style

A White Living Room

I have always wanted a white room.  But let's be honest here.  How many of us can not take the risk of furnishing a room in all white and have the audacity to think that our kids will be as excited and keep it clean?  For years I have said to myself, "I will have an all white room when my kids are grown and gone."  Well, my kids aren't 'gone,' but they are teens and my new home has a formal living room just inside the front door away from the family room and media room.  So why wait?!

So here is my before pic.  The room had a seriously ugly faux finish and garish ceiling.  I mean, who paints a ceiling anything but white? Look at those grandma curtains. I knew they were going bye bye. My friend, Ted, helped me hang the art before we painted the room.  I knew the painter could just leave the hangers in place.  The only thing that was in the room was my pine farmhouse coffee table.  I was hell bent determined to make this room a white neutral room.  Putting furniture into the room would make it impossible to turn back.  Weird, I know.

In a recent copy of Southern Living Editor Lindsay Beirman wrote an article entitled, 10Tried-and-True Decorating Rules.  His number one rule was:

Lindsay Beirman. Editor/ photo Southern Living

1. When you just want a room to be "warm white,"meaning not too yellow or too peachy or too anything else, then go with Benjamin Moore Ivory White (925). Don't overthink this—I've already done enough agonizing for everyone and can say for sure that it works pretty much anywhere, unless you're going for museum-like sterility, in which case you're reading the wrong magazine.

So I took his advice and didn't even try the color in a swatch.  I told my painter to buy it and start painting.  Yes, I realize, this is a serious cliff dive for me.  For those of you who know me, I am the swatch queen.  I figured that if Lindsay was that sure, I would just go for it.  I am so super pleased with the results.

Having bought two Pottery Barn Basic Sofas with the White Twill Slipcover, I needed a white for the walls that had a little variation to offset the bright white (close to blinding white) of the slipcovers.  Benjamin Moore's 925 did the trick.

Ahh.  Love these windows without those heavy curtains. Clean.

I search high and low for two matching occasional chairs.  I searched at all my local consignment and thrift shops, but couldn't find two matching chairs that fit my needs.  I realized that I had to expand my search to local new furniture stores.  I wanted a neutral fabric, but a chair with character.  Nothing slip-covered.  I found these two chairs and fell in love.  They are from Lexington Furniture's Kingstown Collection for Tommy Bahama and are called Maarten Chairs. The chair comes in a variety of finishes. The finish on these particular chairs is a silvery taupe grey and the fabric is a wonderful nappy linen.  With nickel finished nail heads, what's not to love?!  The console tables under the paintings were in the same collection, which helped tie the taupe color into the room.

The pillows and throws (also shown in the first image in this blog post) are in a variety of neutral tones and textures. I bought them this week at Pier One and Home Goods.  I am still looking for a bench or a pair of ottomans for the open side of the seating arrangement.

I added an accent of taupe to the inside of the recessed ceiling. The taupe sets the ceiling off nicely drawing the eye in a subtle way.

I love how the white walls allow my colorful artwork to pop.  The center painting is a Haitian Painting by a well known painter, Louis Rosemont.  The two paintings flanking the Rosemont piece are two pieces that I painted a little over a year ago.

In the image below is a 6 foot by 6 foot painting that I found in a consignment shop.  I have no idea who the artist is, but I fell in love with it and scooped it up.  It stands alone nicely. (see below)

Here is a quick shot of the dining area that is adjacent to this living room. It's not really complete, but it's fine for now. I am continuing the white theme throughout the entire space.

Super excited about how this has developed.  Oh! and guess what?  My teens haven't even come close to my living room! They have not once sat on the white sofas! That's what happens when you don't put a television in a room!

Now, it's time to go get a little rest.  Coco is already ahead of me with that!

-The End-
Linking to:
Between Naps on The Porch
Very Merry Vintage Style
Savvy Southern Style- WOW
Primp Your Stuff
Faded Charm: White Wednesday
Show and Tell Friday: My Romantic Home

Red Ladder Back Chairs Take a Backseat From The Dining Room But Are Front And Center In Breakfast Nook

A few days ago I showed you the dining chairs that I found at a consignment shop and the subsequent reupholstering in white. In that post I mentioned that my red ladder back chairs, who had been married to my farmhouse dining table for over ten years, had to go since the dining and living room is being designed using all neutrals.

Today, I am showing you where they ended up...in my breakfast nook. I don't know if I should call it a nook, because this area has very large, wonderful french windows which open up to the outdoor living space. So it is not really very 'nooky,' but you get the point.  Perhaps, I need a new name for the area. If you got one, please share it!

I found this super gorgeous round glass top pedestal table at one of my favorite consignment stores. I loved it the moment I set my eyes on it, but felt like it had a lofty price attached to it.  But after doing a little research, I learned that was made by the fine furniture company Henredon and had gone for well over 5 times what it was currently priced.  I ask myself, "Who the heck spends all that money on such a table and then just decides to sell it for next to nothing?"  Well, their stupidity is my gain! (wink)

This nook (I swear I need a new name) is adjacent to my family room, which I showed you a peek in my blog post.  The slipcover fabrics and the rug have the same cranberry red color in them, so the chairs were perfect.  We eat at this table frequently and I love the glass top because it is easy to wipe up with a little spritz of Windex and a paper towel.

I change out the top of the table every few days.  My sister, Lisa, just found this totally cute little green owl at Salvation Army for me.  As many of you know, I give my owls a white paint face lift.  But, I think he will stay green for now.  We have had a debate going on about that hole in his chest.  Any guesses as to why that hole is there?  Come on...give me a guess.  Let's see if we can come up with it!

So I've have done a lot of things like this around my new house.  I am hoping to get around and get images so you can see some of my progress.  Hope it inspires you in some way.  Hey! one more image of that awesome table base!

To die for! Hope you have a great weekend!  I'm getting out and enjoying some of this sunshine.  That Tropical Storm we had lingering over us last weekend was a bummer.  Gonna go put my face in the sun.

-The End-

The Truth and a Chandy

Okay, so.  I'm just gonna put it out there. Yep. The truth.  Not that I think you guys ever thought I spoke anything but the truth.  Sometimes...I speak way too much truth. But that's just me.  So why would that change at the ripe old age of 48.  Yep. 48.  I turned that this past month while away from my blog.

An iPhone pic from moving out of the former home.

So the truth.  After moving 8 times since 1988, buying and purchasing and selling, buying and purchasing and selling over and over again, we have landed the house of my dreams.  Now, before you get all excited for me, I have to tell you something.  In order to get such a place, we had to find someone willing to walk away from an over improved home and had to buy it "As Is."  That real estate term, in case you don't know it, states that the buyer is purchasing the property in the current state regardless of the condition of anything releasing the seller from the 2 percent clause. (If you don't know what the 2 percent clause is, look it up...not boring you here with that!!)  Outside all the legal jargon, we have learned that with THIS house the term "AS IS" means "Everything is broken!"  Ha!  We didn't even do formal inspections!!  Guess what?  We still don't care!  Sometimes, ya gotta be willing to overlook the faults, bite the bullet and get what you want vowing to fix what you can as you go.  This is where we find ourselves.

So the last month, we have been in fix it mode.  You know, the boring stuff like appliance repair, and appliance repair...and oh, and appliance repair!  But that doesn't mean that I haven't had some fun finding some great things.  For example, the seller decided to strip the house of a few items that needed to be replaced, like the ceiling light fixture in the foyer.  Yep, he took lighting.  Oh well, this means that I get pick my own.

I set out to all my favorite consignment stores looking for the perfect chandy.  I didn't look at antique places or thrift shops for this.  I needed something a little more special, newer and such.  But you know me, I am a bargain person and I was not going to pay full retail of this item!  Oh no!  It took me a few days to nail it.  In fact, I found this one day in a consignment store over by my daughter's former school (remember I talked about that 3 hours of driving in my last blog post) and am glad that I stopped to check out the place. I am super duper excited about the lighting fixture that I found.  I just got it installed in the foyer and took these snap shots to show you.

How totally cool is this fixture?!!  I just love the glass flowers and the droplets.  It was super hard to transport and install.  Lost a few pieces along the way.  But it has such a WOW factor at my front door.  Don't you think?!

It's not for everyone, but it is for me.  I'm kinda glad the guy who sold me this house took the light fixture.  His was probably ugly anyway.  I like mine just fine and it didn't set me back too badly.  Sometimes, if you stay positive, it all works out!

-The End-

The Upper Patio - The Return of the Mellow Yellow

If you have been following The Homeless Finch for a while, you might remember my Patio Makeover.    It went from this....

To this....

Well, it has gone back to looking like the first image mainly due to one hurricane scare last year.  When we get warnings of hurricanes, everything must be taken down, brought in and secured.  We ultimately didn't get that hurricane and taking it apart was kinda a bummer.  I was just not excited about fixing it back up.  The wind has been horrible this season and sitting out there and enjoying it hasn't been in the cards either.  I have chosen to ignore it.  We all do that stuff, ignore something that is unloved pretending it isn't there.  I bet you can think of something right now that you have left, well, undone.

Why talk about it now?  Well, I gave my Realtor a ton of pics from around the house to use in the listing and he used one of the images from that patio redo.  We have a strong showing today and an Open House planned for Sunday.  So guess what I am doing today?  Yep, you got it.  Putting the draperies back up and sprucing up the space again...only to sell it.  Arrgh.  Selling a house is never easy.  I will just grin and bare this, hoping that my efforts bring us a contract.

In case you missed the post about the patio and want to take a look at more images and see what I did, click here.  Otherwise...carry on!  I gotta get a move on...

-The End-

A Transformed Vintage Mantel Find A Home In My Master Bedroom

Remember the mantel that I revealed in "How To:Vintage Mantel Gets A Makeover" last week?  Was that two weeks ago? Oh well, whatever...I revealed it.  (throat clearing noise)  Well, I have finished installing it to the wall in my Master Bedroom and have thrown together the beginnings of a vignette.  Still working out the kinks, but I wanted to show it to you as it stands now.

Here is the before and after...but of course before installation.  

My Master Bedroom is not outside in my backyard!!!  

I bolted it to the wall, like a good little ole DIYer using two "L" brackets and wood screws that I tapped straight into the bead-board on the wall, making sure to touch up the brackets with leftover paint from when we painted the bead-board.  Here is the mantel sitting on the wall to the right of a built-in, recessed television cabinet.

I found the neat enameled tub with stand a few years back at an outdoor flea market.  I love keeping my extra throw blankets piled up in it.  The little vintage suitcase has been altered with an antique finish, including a few french style decoupaged motifs and is filled with a few things I don't want laying around.                                                                                                                                          The top of the mantel has a variety of treasures including a neat pair of babies shoes, a vintage door knob, an iron dove finial from a antique iron bed that is sitting off to the right beyond the image, my great grandmother's white chamber pot and a self-portrait sculpture I made a few years back out of terracotta.  I'm holding a blue bird in my hands. Always rescuing something or someone.

I plan on taking a little more time to dress this mantel. I am thinking the addition of some dried hydrangea flowers in the chamber pot would look pretty.   I would also like to paint a 3 by 3 foot abstract landscape for the wall above it.  But for now, it is just okay with me.  

-The End-

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Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

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Someday Crafts Whatever Goes Wednesday

WOW Us Wednesday - Savvy Southern Style

Primitive & Proper: Piece of Work Wednesday

WhisperWood Cottage: First Project of the Year

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Under the Table Dreaming: Sunday Showcase

Everything Under the Moon: Bedazzle Me Monday

My Owl Gets a Makeover Inspired By Design Trends And Gets A Name Inspired By Friends

Yesterday I introduced you to this ugly, but cherished ceramic owl from my childhood in the blog post Following My Muse, Reminiscing of Times Gone By And A Owl That Needs A Name.  If you haven't read that post, I suggest you scroll back and read it first because it heavily informs this reveal.  For those of you who are too lazy don't feel like doing that right now, the short of it...I glazed this owl back during a summer when I was 12.  It was packed away in a box that I opened this past Fall.  I have an owl collection that most of my followers are aware of and probably sick of hearing about.  I always give the owls I find at yard sales and thrift shops a white makeover and they are perched in neat places around my house.  But, due to the history of this owl, I wanted to do something different. There.  You are caught up. Well, kinda.

So here is how it looked when I started.

-Before-

http://blog.olioboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01
/60806-the-vanity-fair-vintage-lifestyle.jpeg

I woke up a few days ago, was pretending to still be sleeping and thinking about the day ahead.  I wake up before the sun comes up often. My mind is rested and I sometimes get my most creative ideas in the still of the morning.  I was thinking about the 2012 Design Trends and which ones I thought spoke to my design styles.  One big trend of 2011, but predicted to gain even more of a prevalence is Metallic elements.  I can work with that one and quite frankly could use a little more of it in my decor.  But how, I thought?



This was my Eureka moment.  The one I talked about yesterday.  My owl would be the first entry into adding a few metallic accents to my home decor.  I thought about faux Mercury Glass, like the Mercury Glass Ornaments that I made back in December.  But, knowing that the owl was not glass, stopped that idea.  But how?  Well, I just decided to go for it.  Grab some stuff and see what happens...Let my Muse take over...  Here is what happened.

I rummaged through my paint supplies and decided to start with Rustoleum's Silver Metallic Spray Paint.

My owl is already looking better after two light coats of spray paint waiting 30 minutes in between. At this point, I decided that I didn't like the brightness of the surface.  I don't know if you can tell from the image, but this owl was screaming with brilliance!   I knew the piece needed some depth. I wanted to bring out the details that were lost and tone down the brightness of the surface.  What better way than with a stain or wash.

I let the paint set up over night.  I wanted to make sure that it had somewhat cured on the ceramic surface.  It also gave me some time to figure out what product I wanted to use next.  I considered watered down acrylic paint, but in the end settled on MinWax Stain in Dark Walnut.  I know...a little unorthodox, but hey, I was following my Muse!  (It's easier to blame someone else if things don't work out!)


I rubbed the full strength stain on with a soft cloth, let it set up for a few minutes and buffed it back up off the surface.

The stain remained in the crevices as I rubbed adding the depth and detail that I was wanting to achieve.  I was also pleased that the stain had help tone down the brilliance of the silver paint.  It created a nice patina on the piece.

I had planned to add a third step, but was so excited about the results, I stopped.  Sometimes, ya just gotta know when not to overwork something.  In this instance, that applied.  But, I had one more important issue to solve.  What to name this sweet creature...

Many of you suggested that I pick a name that related to the cabin where I spent my childhood summers.  A few thought a town name might be appropriate. It got me thinking.  The nearest town, and the phone book that we were listed in could be a great name, but it sounded female.  All my owls are 'hims.'  So I thought, "Why do my owls always have to be male?  What is up with that dynamic?"  If you take a look at this owl, it  looks super majestic, all knowing and protective.  So why not a she?  Why not, right?!!   So...introducing...  

Sylva 

By the way...  The irony of the name Sylva and the silver surface was not lost on me.

This is my favorite makeover of the year! Well, actually there have only been two, so I guess Sylva didn't have much competition.  My son is upset that I re-surfaced Sylva.  He said that he like the ugly owl.  Nice kid I got here.  Might need to get his eye re-checked.  (wink)

I wanted to thank everyone who gave me ideas for names.  I also want to say Thank You to Cassie at Primitive and Proper for her great photo holder idea made out of glass insulators.  I placed one of my favorite images of myself, my mother and my younger brother standing near the cabin with blooming dogwood trees in background.  My mom loved it when they bloomed.    Oh! and...Rosemary?!  Yes, those are the little bottles with antique keys that I bought from your Villabarnes Etsy Store!   Glad you noticed.  

The change is dramatic.  Just look at this before and after collage...

Perched alone without her ugly former self next to her.....

-The End-

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