My Creative Blog:
SuperCreative

  • Temporary Accent Wall with Grass Cloth & Nailheads {Sarah M. Dorsey Designs}

    Temporary Accent Wall with Grass Cloth & Nailheads {Sarah M. Dorsey Designs}

    If you missed all the amazing projects of our first annual Creating with the Stars, be sure to check them out below!

    Round 1 Projects & Winners Round 2 Projects & Winners Ro und 3 Projects & Winners Round 4 Projects & Winners
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sarah's unbelieveable bedroom transformation blew us away. The color combinations, details and style of the room were simply perfect and we fell in love immediately. She had a few awesome tutorials for her projects, so we decided to break them into two posts. Today, you'll see how she made that removeable accent wall that is a great solution for you renters out there, or those of you who have Design ADD like us!: )
    When I heard that this week's theme was home decor I instantly knew that I wanted to do a bedroom feature wall and a dramatic headboard! With my amazing diy partner and husband, David, we got straight to work!

    Living in a rental makes it nearly impossible to install classic wallpaper and nailhead, so we decided to build a separate feature wall! We wanted to incorporate two of my favorite materials, nailhead and grasscloth wallpaper. I love the texture of the wallpaper and the dimension of the nailhead!
    Want to know how we built the wall? Here we go!

    We purchased three sheets of plywood from Home Depot and had them cut to 7' high. Since the feature wall is 12' long, it would need to be built inside of the room. We designed it so that it could easily be dismantled into three pieces to be removed. We tied the seams together with 1x3s and built a frame on the back with 1x3s so it was extra sturdy and straight. We then flipped it over and primed it so that they wall paper adhesive wouldn't soak in.

    Once dry, we cut the wallpaper to the correct height, placed it to the side and rolled wallpaper adhesive over the primer. We then used a wallpaper smoothing tool to remove any bubbles. The steps were repeated with 4 rows across, lining up the seams. It was helpful to have two people so that it could be adjusted as needed!

    For the design, I was inspired by this fantastic headboard by Annie Selke. We created the design in Illustrator, and calculated the distance between the nailhead and printed it on two sheets of 11x17 which were taped together. We then punched little holes through the dots and used a felt tip pen to lay it out on the wallpaper.
    Nailhead isn't the most fun thing to apply, but once you hit a rhythm you move pretty fast! Here are a few tips that I found helpful as I went.
    1. To help protect my fingers from the hammer and to grab the nailhead more easily, I used rubber finger tips on my thumb and index finger (you know the ones that they sell in the office supply stores for sorting paper and such?) When I did hit my fingers, it hurt a lot less, and they weren't even sore when I was done!
    2. If your wood is soft enough, push a few in with your finger first and then hammer. This saves time since you are putting the hammer up and down less frequently. Since our plywood was soft and hard in different spots, this wasn't always possible, but it helped when we could!
    3. Lastly, this feature wall took about 2,250 nails. Wow, that's a lot of nails! So it was helpful to have two people or if you have the time, break it up over a few days. Total install time for the nailhead with two people was about 8 hrs.

    It was helpful to install the trim (we painted first) before the nailhead reached the edge, so we knew exactly where to stop it. We used finish nails to secure the trim and then filled the holes with wood filler, sanded and painted once dry.
    Next, we decided that we wanted the wall to sit just above the trim, so we cut legs to height out of a 1x12 and secured it to the back frame. We then installed a few cabinet anchors through the trim into the wall to make sure that it was firmly attached.
    This wall was pretty massive! Almost the length of the room, but I LOVE the impact that it has on the space! Just because we are renting doesn't mean that without a little creative thinking we can't have a statement wall!

    I mean, c'mon. That is genius, and we don't mind saying we wish we had done it first! Ha! Check out Sarah's fabulous blog, and then come back tomorrow to learn how to make that coral headboard!
    Oh yeah! One more thing! Have you linked up your favorite home decor project yet? You can do that here for a chance to be featured on EC2 and win some great prizes. Fun for everyone!: )

    jess
    Monica
  • DIY Herringbone "Tile" Floor Using Peel & Stick Vinyl {Knock It Off}

    DIY Herringbone "Tile" Floor Using Peel & Stick Vinyl {Knock It Off}

    It's true- most people have heard of vinyl peel and stick tile. We both have used it in our homes in the past. But, what's also true, is that most people have never thought to create an awesome herringbone pattern with that tile! These tiles are ridiculously easy to cut which makes it the perfect material to go crazy with pattern! We have to say that this floor is one of our favorite projects to date- we transformed this dated floor into an expensive, slate-look-alike.

    To say this flooring was dated would be the under-statement of the year. It was yellow and green and oh so bad! Even though the kitchen was tiny, we didn't have enough money or time to go with real slate tile.

    Instead, we got our DIY on… Lowe's sells lots of vinyl peel and stick tile and while it does actually look like stone, when installed the traditional way it looks good, but doesn't have a big wow factor…

    So, we had an idea… This flooring comes in 18x18 tiles- we decided to cut each tile down into three 6" strips per tile. Vinyl flooring cuts easily with a utility knife- Just score it and then fold it to divide.

    We cut down all of our tile into strips and then measured to find the center point of the floor. We used a chalk line to snap a guide for us to follow.
    Then, to give it a unique and high-end look, we laid the tile in a herringbone pattern. You just make"L's" over and over again. It's one of the easiest patterns to do!

    How's that for a before and after?? And, honestly… these pics don't even do it justice! You definitely have to watch this segment of the episode! (Here)

    I honestly was amazed and how good we made inexpensive vinyl look. It's like it was all dressed up for prom or something! Fancy!

    Changing out the flooring played a big part in making this tiny kitchen renovation complete! No one would ever guess that this flooring was installed with some of the cheapest materials on the market! Changing the shape of the tile and the installation layout gave us amazing style, without the expensive price tag!

  • A Plain Pot: 3 Ways

    A Plain Pot: 3 Ways

    Sometimes spring decorating stumps me. I'm always so excited to lighten and brighten, but since one day can be warm and the next day is rainy and cold, I never quite know how to decorate. This year, I came up with a super inexpensive idea that makes my decor really versatile and easy to swap out.

    Enter the simple terra cotta pot. I bought it at Lowes for less than a dollar. I decided to create three completely different looks that I can swap out whenever it suits my fancy.

    DIY Idea # 1- Washi Tape & Whitewash The first step for this option is to tone down the orange clay color. I watered down some white paint, applied a thin coat, and then used paper towels to wipe it off, which left me with a white, weathered look. I had this adorable ruler washi tape and thought it went perfectly with the idea of spring growth! I love washi tape because it's inexpensive and comes in so many fun patterns.

    DIY Idea #2- Faux Metal Metal containers can be really expensive, but I love the industrial look they have. Using metallic spray paint, I was able to get the look of metal, but still spend under a dollar! I think a grouping of these in varying heights could look really neat!

    DIY Idea #3- Chalkboard Paint Oh, how I love chalkboard paint! Did you know I actually have chalk paint as my kitchen back splash? It's pretty awesome. I love the matte finish it gives the pot and I was able to add a fun little doodle. If you're thinking of planting any starter plants or herbs, you could use chalk to label what you're growing. Here's an insider tip… to get the crisp, clean writing lines like I did, use a chalk marker. You can order them online or from restaurant supply stores. They are much easier to draw with and still wipe off with water!

    Don't get me wrong, I'm all about big room makeovers, but sometimes a simple project like this one can make me just as happy!

    The options are endless with this one- which one do you like best??

    Monica

  • I'm just Gonna Eat My Words

    I'm just Gonna Eat My Words

    I figured this was going to happen at some point- me eating my words. I mean, with the hundreds of posts and millions of words we write, something had to come back and bite me. Last Fall Monica and I made this short little video for something and we're pretty sure we've never shown it to you. It's just a closer look at us, our craziness and our adorable kids. For the purpose of this post, please pay close attention to what I say at minute 1:00.

    Did you catch that? I made a claim I never should I have claimed. And this is why:

    Eeeeek. Can you believe that? No, neither could we. We thought we were completely done having kids after two- we even sold all of our baby stuff last year. But God has other plans for us. I'll be honest, at first, this was really hard for me to get excited about. I know, that sounds terrible. And I'm really sorry if I offend anyone, but it's true. It's just how I felt. We're just hitting our stride with our two kids- they're old enough that we aren't stuck to a schedule every day and we're finally out of diapers! Plus, Monica and I are doing some big things and it just felt like the timing couldn't be worse. However, this has reminded me that I am not in control. God knows what I need when I need it. Clearly, He wanted this baby to be a part of our family at this point in time and I can happily say that I am getting excited now! I'm due early in October and so am about 18 weeks along already!.: )
    You know what else? I get to design and decorate another nursery. Woohoo! Trust me, I'll keep you in the loop with all my plans and will most likely even ask you for advice!
    Have you guys ever been surprised by a pregnancy? Please tell me I'm not the only one who has had to eat their words.

    jess
  • 12 Awesome Fabrics {Arrows, Stars, and Narwhals Oh My!}

    12 Awesome Fabrics {Arrows, Stars, and Narwhals Oh My!}

    During my piano painting project, I knew I had to have the PERFECT fabric for the bench seat. I love big fabric stores, but my taste tends to be a bit more specific and I'll admit it… quirky. Spoonflower is my favorite source to get just the right fabrics! It's where I ordered my chair fabric for my foyer way back when (man, that was over two years ago! Time flies when you're a blogger!) It took all of about 5 seconds for me to find a plethora of fabrics I loved on Spoonflower. I went with Chevron White Stripe Tile

    I love how it looks with the green piano and white keys!

    Since I loved so many of the cool, trendy fabrics, I thought a little fabric round-up was in order!

    #1 Bubblegum Triangles This one screams-"I'm tribal and I know it, but I really like the 80s too!" It comes in a lot of cool color varieties- I like the soft tans and pastels too!

    #2- Wonderful Narwhal I don't even think this needs a comment. Narwhal= Awesome. Enough said.

    #3-.a shot in water. I like how this takes a softer approach to the arrow craze. This is something I could so see in a room designed by Perfectly Imperfect

    #4- Animal Constellations- dark teal I love the animals in this fabric. The fox is probably my favorite. I would love to just frame it and hang it.

    #5- Vintage Cameras If you saw my knock off during CWTS, you may have noticed the huge camera art on the walls (post for that coming soon!). This fabric was obviously meant for me!

    #6- Tribal Arrows Navy Maxi Yes, I'm totally on the arrow bandwagon… I like to think I'm one of the drivers because I love it so much. So this bold fabric seemed just perfect for a spring and summer full of the trend. Wouldn't some outdoor pillows look awesome with this?

    #7,8,9,10 Modern Love Collection I love this entire collection. Some of my fabric choices above are seasonal or would be temporary, but theses could last a long time in the Mangin casa! I love having just a touch of quirkyness in every room, so the kangaroos are wicked cool. I like both chevrons (with and without feathers) and the modern graphic blue, would compliment them so nicely. If you're doing a space soon and needed an epic combo, here ya go!

    #11- Zigzag Herringbone This has a more refined, mature feel to it (something you'd find at Jess' house) but I love the grey, orange, and brown together! Fall is my favorite season (although summer can't get here soon enough) and I think this fabric just might make an appearance in a few projects this autumn!

    #12- hairpins Here's why I love it… A) it's quirky B) Bobby pin fabric ranks high on my awesome scale C) it's subtle enough that unless someone looked closely they wouldn't know just how cheeky your decor is.

    So there you have it folks… some awesomely fun, trendy, and quirky fabrics! Now it's your turn… which one on my list is your fav?

    Monica
  • DIY Hanging Frames {Tutorial}

    DIY Hanging Frames {Tutorial}

    A few weeks ago during round 4 of Creating with the Stars, I showed you guys the bathroom makeover we did for our kids. I love this happy, colorful room- it feels so fresh and clean. One of the little projects in the room that I never mentioned were the hanging frames on the wall as you enter the bathroom.

    This was a super easy project that took about 30 minutes total to complete and it's so darn cute. Let's take a look at how I made it, shall we?

    I went to a World Market for the very first time while vacationing in Hilton Head, SC (we don't have one near us- boooooo) and immediately noticed these hanging frames, but they were $49.99!! I knew that with just a few cheap frames from Ikea, I could recreate this look for less!

    Here's what you'll need to make your own:
    - Plain frames (I got mine for 3.99 each at Ikea) — Braided rope — Staple gun (optional) — Hot glue gun — Level — Measuring tape

    Step 1: Pull the arm off of your frame, if they have them, so that the frames lay flush against the wall.

    Step 2: Roughly estimate how long you want the rope to be by placing the frames the same distance apart (mine are 3 inches apart) and looping the rope up and over the top and down the sides. Cut the rope. Don't worry about being exact here, you just want to make sure you have more than you'll need.

    I found this awesome multi-colored rope at the Dollar Tree and am in love. (Remember? You've seen it right here before) For only a few bucks, I have more than I need so I can use it in lots of different ways!

    Step 3: Place a knot a few inches down from the top so that you can easily hang your frames when you're ready. I also think this adds a fun detail to the frames!

    Step 4: Lay your frame upside down on a flat surface and line it up with a straight edge. I used the edge of my countertops as my guide. This ensures that the frame will be level when you hang it up. Using your hot glue gun, dab some glue to the upper corner of your frames and hold it in place. Do this on both sides. Then run a line of glue down the sides of the frame, pulling the rope tight as you go.

    Step 5: Line the next frame up and masure your desired distance (my frames are 3 inches apart) and hot glue in the same places as above. This part gets tricky, so try to keep a steady hand! But the nice thing is that if you mess up, you can just pull the rope off and do it again! (Not that that happened to me or anything:) Repeat with the remaining frame.

    Step 6 (optional): Use your staple gun to shoot a few staples in the corner to secure the rope.
    Step 7: Fill your frame with cute pics and hang it up! I used a large knob I had to hang the frame- I love the way it looks!

    That's it! For under $10, I created a fun piece of wall decor for my kid's bathroom! Can't beat that.: )

    And now I just have to ask…is there anything you can't do with a little hot glue??; )

    jess
  • Green Painted Piano {Annie Sloan Chalk Paint}

    Green Painted Piano {Annie Sloan Chalk Paint}

    Before we get into today's post, we want to announce the winner of the Mother's Day Giveaway from Salvatori Photography…

    Congrats Holly! We know your session pics are going to be amazing! If you missed it, Wednesday I shared the awesome story session pics Salvatori Photography did for my family. Check it out here. Even if you didn't win, Stacy would love to take pics for you! Contact her before her schedule for late spring/summer is full! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I don't play the piano… well, that's not entirely true, I took lessons for about two years, so there are about 3 songs I can pluck out- Ode to Joy, Hey Jude (talk about random!), and one nameless song that is kind of my signature song. Long story short, I stink! Eric however, is an amazing pianist. I absolutely love listening to him play. Our kids have names for all the different songs,"The Angry Song" is a fast song and the kids run around our house like crazy people when he plays it. I love watching him play and it reminds me how crazy talented (in so many areas) my hubs is.
    As much as I love the sound, I have never been a fan of the look of the oak piano. It's just so dated and not me…

    Because the piano was so blah, I let two years go by with our front living room looking pretty much like this… no style, Eric's choice of colonial blue on the walls, and just an overall hot mess.

    My living room is attached to my dining room, so the difference between the two rooms was pretty stark…

    We finally decided to take the plunge and paint the piano! I knew I was going to for ages, but I didn't know what color, so I wanted until I was positive!

    I decided on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Antibes Green. I'm sure you know all about ASCP, but if you don't it's one of the coolest paint products out there! It is a chalk paint, but not chalkboard paint. Basically it adheres to all kinds of surfaces and wait for it… you don't have to sand!! Boyah!

    Since I didn't have to waste time sanding, I got right to taping. I needed to make sure that I was super careful and no paint would damage the piano since the hubs actually uses it.

    The prep work took me about 5 minutes and then it was time to paint. Eric was working on painting stripes on the ceiling for me (post coming on those soon) and we just put"Hit List" on Fios and got our painting groove on.

    Yeah, I don't look too thrilled, but I promise I was…

    How's that for a comparison… bye bye nasty oak!

    I did two coats, but after the first I knew I was in love!

    Chalk paint looks really uneven when it's drying, but have no fear- it looks nice and smooth once it's fully dry.

    I used Annie Sloan dark wax to seal the piano and give it the darker, rich color I wanted. I'm not going to give you any tips on that part because I completely did it wrong! Apparently I was supposed to wax with clear wax and then dark… I just tell people, I was going for a more imperfect look! Ha!

    The bench got ASCP on the legs, but to add a little awesomeness, I upholstered it with this fabric from Spoonflower.

    Ahh! I love the fabric with the green!

    So what do you think of the before and after? I hear so many people say,"but you can't paint it- it's REAL wood!" and I want to go on the record saying,"It can be REAL wood and still be REALLY ugly!" Don't be afraid to paint!!

    And now for an onslaught of after pictures… I'm so happy to finally have a living room that I love!

    And don't forget… We're the ones in a contest now and if we win, we get to give $5000 to the charity of our choice! We need your help, though- you can learn more about our project and the charity we chose here, or go vote for us every day for the next two weeks right here (like their page and then click on the Crafting for Charity button on their FB page). Thank you!

    And just because this absolutely made my night… look at the picture I found on my computer! I recently taught Kaden how to use PicMonkey and apparently he's having a good old time with it! I actually might frame this pic I love it so much…"ther is monsters"

    Have a great weekend and watch out for those darn monsters!

    Monica
  • This is How We Roll… {The Mangin Family}

    This is How We Roll… {The Mangin Family}

    You guys get to see my home all the time in projects, you get to read my ramblings here on the blog daily, but today I'm sharing something a little more personal… my family and my life behind the scenes. Our photographer Stacy of Stacy Salvatori Photography spent a Saturday with our family capturing pictures of our real life. No coordinated outfits, no posing, just capturing how we roll. I can't tell you how much I love the pictures and I can't wait to make a big ol' display with them!
    (Don't forget that Stacy is giving away a FREE Session for Mother's Day and you can enter until Midnight tonight! Click here to enter!)

    Here's how Stacy describes these awesome story sessions… I wanted to try something new. Something real. I’ve seen a few photographers that I admire and whose work I simply love, start a new journey. One of capturing people’s stories… their real life moments. And I kind of dig it. I like the notion of no posing, no planned outfits, and location? Well, how about your own home. The place you feel most you. I still love doing Family Portrait Sessions, and I always will. But there’s something unique, and something raw about snapping those in-between moments of life. The moments that truly define who we are, and that when we look back on, well, they will help us feel what we did all over again. I had the joy of capturing the Mangin Family’s ‘Story’. Them in their beautiful home, laughing, fighting, playing, and crying… living their life in front of the lens. Here’s a few snapshots of their life. What’s your story?
    I hope you enjoy this peek into my life… If you would have told me ten years ago that I'd have 4 kids, own a dog, cat, and two ducks, I'd have laughed hard enough to possibly pee my pants. God has some crazy plans up his sleeve and I'm so thankful for this crazy life that's ours.

    One of my very favorite pictures!

    Hard to see, but if you look closely you can see my crazy hubs was throwing an ax up in the air and catching it while it was spinning. Did I mention our life is a tad crazy?

    I hope you've enjoyed peeking into my world. If you're local, you should definitely call Stacy about setting up a story session. Tell her EC2 sent you and she'll give you the VIP treatment! (I completely made that up, but she's always super nice, so we can pretend it's VIP just for you!)
    Later this week I'll be sharing more projects from the Wood Shim Wall Art projects!

    Monica

    P.S. We're the ones in a contest now and if we win, we get to give $5000 to the charity of our choice! We need your help, though- you can learn more about our project and the charity we chose here, or go vote for us every day for the next two weeks right here (click on the Crafting for Charity button on their FB page). Thank you!

  • Faux Industrial Metal Letters {Tutorial}

    Faux Industrial Metal Letters {Tutorial}

    Man, it feels so great to be back writing a tutorial of my own this week! I've been on a mission to finish the living room/dining room on our first floor and this project got me one step closer. I'm absolutely in love with the way this came out, and I have to say, I'm pretty thrilled with the sentiment, too- I have been so blessed!

    I'm a big fan of mixing in some industrial elements in my home. Since I just added these lights to my dining room that connects to the living room, I thought it would be fun to mimic the tone of the lights somewhere in the living room.

    I had ordered this phrase from one of our favorite shops, 163 Design Company, and had originally painted them three different shades of yellow before finally decided that yellow was going to be the death of me. Thankfully, having a best friend with a good eye (*ahem, Monica) came in handy when she suggested trying a metallic look. Since I didn't want just a flat metal look, I decided to try my hand at faking that awesome, full-of-character industrial look. Here's what you need to do to bring some metal into your life: 1. Lay your letters on a drop cloth and spraypaint them in Krylon's Stainless Steel. It took about 3 light, even coats to cover all that hideous yellow. (Sidenote: I'm a huge fan of using spraypaint whenever possible, since it's fast and easy and I'm lazy. )

    2. Using Valspar Brown Velvet Spraypaint, lightly spray the letters from a good distance. You don't want to be up real close to the letters when you do this. Splotchy and imperfect are the looks we're going for here! This step takes away a bit of the shine from the stainless steel.

    3. Using a makeup sponge or paint applicator, dab black acrylic craft paint on the edges and corners of each letter. There is no exact science to this. I just dabbed it on, rubbed it in and on some occasions, used a damp cloth to wipe it down. If you'd like to add a rust effect, use Burnt Sienna craft paint on the corners and areas that would naturally rust. I didn't do this as it made it a bit too warm for me. That's it!

    To hang my letters, I used picture hanging command strips. After measuring, leveling and measuring some more (that's a whole OTHER tutorial), I was finally happy with the arrangement!

    I'm loving the look of my new"old" metal letters. Other surfaces in my house, better watch out! I'm on an industrial metal rampage!

    Monica used 163 Design Company to create a unique statement in her entryway, too!

    So now, what will YOU give this industrial metal look to? P.S, We're the ones in a contest now and if we win, we get to give $5000 to the charity of our choice! We need your help, though- you can learn more about our project and the charity we chose here, or go vote for us every day for the next two weeks right here. Thank you!

  • Mother's Day Giveaway! {Salvatori Photography)

    Mother's Day Giveaway! {Salvatori Photography)

    Oh man, we love a good giveaway. I mean, really, who doesn't like to win free things?! We've talked about our friend Stacy multiple times because we can't get enough of her photography. Just recently Salvatori Photography did an awesome story session of Monica and her family. Basically, she followed their family around one Saturday morning to capture their everyday moments and they turned out fabulous…
    (This is one of Monica's favorites from the session)

    Last year, she captured our entire families and as a result, we have photos we will love for a lifetime.

    Main Pic

    One of her photos even graces my walls in an almost life-sized way- remember my huge shaped frame? And this picture of my kiddos (they were so little!) is just priceless.

    And, well, it's pretty nice to have a great photo of me and my best friend.

    For Mother's Day, we are so excited to be able to give away a photography session with Salvatori Photography!

    Here are the prize details you need to know:

    ~ 1 hour Session in one location ~ Up to 5 people ~ Over a $300 Value ~ Must live within 25 miles of Perkasie PA ~ Can't not be redeemed for cash value -Must be redeemed by August 1, 2013
    Isn't this AWESOME?!! Just think, one of you could surprise your mom, sister, grandma or wife with a photography session for Mother's Day! I would be over the moon with a gift like that (*hint hint, hubby!).
    **Please make sure you click to LIKE Salvatori Photography- don't just click I'm a fan, unless you already are. Thanks!**
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    We'll announce the lucky winner next Friday, April 19th! Good luck!: )

    jess
    Monica

    P.S, We're the ones in a contest now and if we win, we get to give $5000 to a charity we love- Worthwhile Wear. We need your help, though- you can learn more about our project and the charity we chose here, or go vote for us every day for the next two weeks right here. Thanks!!

  • Green China Cabinet: {Dimples and Tangles}

    Green China Cabinet: {Dimples and Tangles}

    We are so happy to have Janenifer from Dimples and Tangles here today sharing all the details on this stunning china cabinet transformation that she linked up last week in our final round of Creating with the Stars. Janenifer has great taste and impeccable style. We know that once you take a look at her blog, you won't be able to stop! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Well, here she is!

    After almost two full weeks of work (off and on), it's finally done, and I'm going to make you scroll through way too many pictures.
    Let's remember the very sad before…

    And the oh so fun after!

    I wanted to create a glam, sophisticated look and lighten up the inside, so I used my wedding china, crystal, some other white dishes and thrifted milk glass I've collected to style the shelves.

    I like symmetry.

    Now for the details, I sanded, filled in gouges, sanded, wiped, and primed before painting three coats of color. Yes, I can confirm that dark colors are tricky and take more paint. The color I used was Behr's Pine Scent in semi-gloss. I used a good Purdy brush for the corners and a foam roller for the rest. Also, a huge trick I've learned when painting with latex paint is to use a coat or two of poly on the flat surfaces that will have something sitting on top of them. Latex paint can stay tacky for up to a month, but with a layer of poly it's ready to go after 24 hours or so…no tackiness!

    . One of the knobs on the bottom doors was missing, and a few of the pulls on the top doors. I kept and cleaned up the brass backplates on the glass doors, and found these perfect glass knobs at Hobby Lobby. They are an oval shape rather than round so they fit nicely together where the doors meet.

    I also gave you a sneak peak at the chunky hardware on the bottom. The oversize glass knobs were out of my stash. Did you guess what the backplate was? I knew I wanted something big and was coming up empty looking online, and then I remembered I had these…

    They started their lives as…Christmas ornaments! I bought them and used them as hangers for an old window treatment (seen here). My handy husband drilled a hole in the middle and they were perfect! Along with the original drawer handles, they got a coat of Rustoleum's Metallic Brass spray paint, and then a coat of Rub-n-Buff in Gold Leaf.

    I had planned to add height by adding an extending shelf in between the two pieces to house some cubbies for storage baskets, but I ended up just needing to get this piece d.o.n.e! I probably will still add that piece in the future.

    With this project completed, I'm down to artwork and a new table for this room. I have the table but it needs some work so I am waiting for a streak of warm-enough days outside to work on it. That probably won't be happening until later in the spring. Artwork, though, coming up!

    Isn't that gorgeous? We're totally digging the kelly green and gold together and how smart was it to use Christmas ornaments as part of the knobs??!! If you think that piece is awesome, you just have to see the Accent panel wall in Janenifer's office…it is to die for!

    Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Janenifer! Check back tomorrow for an AWESOME Mother's Day giveaway that you don't want to miss!

    jess
    Monica

    P.S, We're the ones in a contest now and if we win, we get to give $5000 to the charity of our choice! We need your help, though- you can learn more about our project and the charity we chose here, or go vote for us every day for the next two weeks right here. Thank you!

  1. embroidered fabric by Fay Maxwell
  2. Fay Maxwell - textile artist & embroiderer
  3. embroidered fabric by Fay Maxwell
  4. Elephant Art - Indian Holiday
  5. Creative Holiday to Kutch, India
  6. Cameron Russell: Free Soul, Part II | Mode: Fashion
  7. Lara Stone | Mode: Fashion
  8. Missy Rayder: Harper’s Bazaar Spain | Mode: Fashion
  9. Candice Swanepoel: Harper’s Bazaar Turkey | Mode: Fashion
  10. Isabeli Fontana | Mode: Fashion