Homefront: Forgotten Chairs

Over the past many years, I have moved several times, and with each move, things have to go. I am not a sentimental person when it comes to most material things (aside from my horrific, towering, craft stash), but one thing I love is chairs. I miss almost every chair I get rid of, even stinky, broken ones, because I always think they can be fixed, and can be put in a corner somewhere. I really miss this blue chair. It was $7 at a garage sale, it leaned back, it was super clean, pretty comfortable, and a neat modern shape. It would have been super easy to slipcover or fabric spray paint. Oh, I miss that spray painted chair in that post tons too! But now, I can feel a little peace in my "Chair Addiction" Pinterest board, knowing that unloved chairs are being rehomed and rescued every day. Do you have a particular item that you have regretted getting rid of?

 

Homefront: Spray Painting an Upholstered Chair Makeover

After reading Little Green Notebook's fabric spray painting adventure, I automatically went and ordered their upholstery spray paint (on ebay from Tie Dye Girl because it was a tad cheaper). I used a total of two cans on this chair, but I still need one more can because I didn't get the back of the cushions yet, and there are a few more spots that need touch ups. So, maybe two more cans. Which says a lot about me, because on their site, they demonstrate on a whole couch with only 6 cans. (But, I don't recommend for a huge couch. Also, if the fabric has a pattern on it, the pattern will show throguh just a tad. It still wouldn't be as ugly though, but a nice monotone pattern color.)

Our friend gave us this chair, and I actually love it. It's huge! But, I am not a fan of the colors, plus my boys have stained it so badly. I've been covering it with my wonderful vintage granny square afghan, but now that is being torn apart and will need repair. I've wanted to slipcover the chair, but I don't sew, nor do I have a staple gun... though the Hello Giggles girls have a cute alternative requiring fabric and safety pins that I may try later.

The hubs kindly volunteered to help.

I'm rocking an all black outfit, turned inside out, just in case. My toes didn't escape the paint, however.

The neat thing about this paint, is it can be worked and smoothed into hard to get areas with a cloth.

The drips are easily wiped off with a damp rag. I will be sanding the wood down and painting it white later, so I'm not too upset about any paint that remained.

And, because my nail polish got destroyed by paint speckles, I gave them a little gun metal finish. (Yes, I am aware I have a disfigured toe, you can't see it, but that toenail is painted too!)

For my little dream catcher piece, it's just a cheap canvas with a Dollar Store dream catcher pinned on it. I put foam poster board on the back of the canvas for pinning different objects to my canvases when I tire of them. Like my ephemera canvas art tutorial here.

Look, my painted armiore, I don't think I've shown that yet! It still isn't finished ;)

linked to:

Simply Designing Linky Party 

The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday

Modern Country Style Paint Please Party 

Chic on a Shoestring Flaunt it Friday.
Shabby Chic Cottage Transformation Thursday 
Fingerprints of the Fridge Feature Yourself Friday
The DIY Showoff
I Heart Naps Sundae Scoops
Sugar and Dots What I Whipped Up Wednesday

(not at Frugalicious Friday's Linky, but had to share anyways) 

 The Vintage Farmhouse

Inspired Interiors: Subtle Florals and Natural Pink Undertones

lonny

We just got back in town, and my Christmas decorating is still everywhere. I'm longing to put it all away and have a clean slate.  There is something so simple, yet full of character in these following images, I hope to incorporate some sense of crisp color and personality in the home eventually, while maintaining a natural feel. I love the subtle use of florals to work that romantic feel. (If only I could paint those dark beige renter walls.)

Is it just me, or do these images feel a little bit country, a little bit modern?

 

Also, I came across this post at Censational Girl, that talks about taking better pictures of interiors. I guess I had better learn to work my manual shooting!

the simple things buttons print ~ lola's room (plus she's having a sale on her prints today)

lonny

primitive mint chip green cottage  wood wall shelf ~ a country way

rustic pink and black/white dining room ~ shilo byrd

lonny

 floral color das-tropenhaus.de

Possibly my favorite. the plank floors, the modern bed and subtle colors with a flash of florals. 

Such a cozy and airy feeling.

*And if you want some inspiration overload of similar design ideas, then visit
Alexc's pintrest or Seamlife Creative's Pintrest.

White, Black, Gray & Paint

dining room ~ in the fun lane

One day, coming up soon (as in before it gets too hot), I would love, LOVE to paint my wood furniture. We have an armoir, tv stand, kitchen table with 4 chairs, large desk with hutch and two dressers.We would let the boys stay at grandma's for the weekend (okay, maybe 2 weekends) and just do a paint marathon for 2 days straight! I love the suggestions on Shabby Chic Furniture on preparing the wood, to use water and sugar soap to clean the furniture as regular cleaner can keep the paint from sticking. Holly of In the Fun Lane has some of the best painting advice out there.

black table  via Veranda

 dresser painted black over a red glaze ~ bhg kids rooms

I am considering going black with the kitchen tables and chairs. There is a large burn hole from a small fire on the table that will need to be filled and layers of wax from small details. Reading this advice forum on redoing kitchen tables make me balk, so we'll see...

 white hutch ~ in the fun lane

white night stand end table ~in the fun lane

But what about the rest? I have a find love of all white distressed wood ever since I grew to love antique malls and seeing the vintage pie safes in all of the layers of peeling paint, some with even 4 or 5 different colors peeking out from underneath!

my house of giggles gray hutch makeover

gray painted captains bench ~ life in the fun lane

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic

But, the more I see grey, the more I grow to love it. It's not to light, not to dark, it has an urban county chic appeal and can pair most any color I choose to decorate with.

Maybe, I will do a mix of white, grey and black. What do you think? Do you mix and match your furniture? Do you prefer light or dark? I like how she keeps some of the natural colors with the painted pieces.

white dresser with caster feet and natural wood chair ~ in the fun lane

white dining room with natural chair ~ in the fun lane

As a note, I love natural wood and stain, especially mid century modern pieces,  but trust me, none of our furniture is lookin so hot for that right now, though I do think that maybe a few chairs would look neat! I do need to get two more for the ends of our table anyways...

Tree Jewelry and Nature Inspired Finds

 

A little happy tree from HiTree would be such a sweet gift!

This Spring in a Can would be a beautiful adornment for a side table, or even to give as an Easter gift!

This living wall planter would be perfect for a home without a garden area, or anyone who loves plants!

What a neat idea! "Drape a gleaming stainless steel necklace around your precious. Fitted on indestructible marine line, finished with marine hardware".

They even have more necklaces and chokers on the Tree Jewelry website. Something I could see in Galadriel's forest perhaps?

Now this rose carved metal chair is a true beauty that needs no pruning.