tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47949155045345378612024-03-13T14:40:52.000-07:00Steffes in the HouseSteffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-14462203238936028612014-08-04T10:04:00.002-07:002014-08-04T10:04:41.920-07:00DIY Padded Coffee TableThe family room area has lacked a coffee table ever since my oldest was born. It worked well the last 6+ years but now that my youngest is over 3 I've been thinking about adding one back. We've definitely missed having somewhere to rest our feet when watching TV. I was inspired after reading <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/diy-upholstered-bench-from-coffee-table.html">this tutorial using inexpensive IKEA rugs</a> to try something myself. <br />
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I already had this metal and glass table not being used. The aged brass finish is perfect but we needed something softer and more kid friendly for the top.
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It has a matching larger round table which I love as much as someone can love a table. Here is an older fuzzy picture of it in my living room.<br />
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The glass top was replaced with small piece of 11/32 thick plywood from Home Depot for $7. Mike cut it to size back home and it easily rested in the metal frame.<br />
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Instead of spending $14 on foam I chose to pad the top with layers of heavy polar fleece found at Goodwill new for $5. Most of the layers of polar fleece were cute to match the plywood. The last piece was left larger to staple onto the wood.<br />
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Next I hand sewed two small cotton floor rugs together using regular thread close in color to the rug. I knew the stitches would be visible which was part of the charm of this project. These rugs were only $3 each which felt like a huge bargain for such a sturdy material with lots of texture. I didn't take pictures of the them but at IKEA there was a huge bin filled to the top with <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90267066/">these pinkish red and beige striped rugs</a>.
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After stapling the rugs I now have this in my family room area.
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I am super pleased with how it turned out. I added a plexi tray recently purchased at Target to contain magazines and provide a hard surface for drinks. I couldn't help but pull out my favorite cup/saucer and sit back to enjoy this new addition. For only $18 we now have a padded coffee table and a place to finally rest our feet!
Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-19871361926054729312014-07-14T10:11:00.000-07:002014-07-14T12:48:43.736-07:00Jonathan Adler Pillows and AccessoriesThe master bed pillow situation has always looked a little off to me with no wow factor. <br><br>
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After reading this blog post about <a href="http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/greek-key-pillow/">pillow covers made from napkins</a> I thought they would be a great solution. The napkins were purchased from my local JCPenney, a store I hadn't been to in years. The 2 pack set ended up costing only $8.50 and I already had pillow inserts and extra white duck cloth for the back.
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I was familiar with JCPenney's Jonathan Adler Happy Chic line which is more affordable than his premium line. It was still out of my price range when I viewed it online in the past. Well that has changed! I found some good deals while poking around the Happy Chic shop. There were lots of markdowns, some less than online prices. Plus I used a 15% coupon downloaded from the website to my phone. I could not pass up this pink faux agate box. Seriously, this baby was only $9.
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And look at these black pillows. They have removable zippered covers with included inserts for only $8 each. I'm not sure where they will live but for now they are hanging with some friends including the <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-first-zippered-pillow-cover-and-blog.html">black and white spotted pillow</a> on the living room couch.
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After all of these JA additions I finally bought his book "Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Colors" from ebay to make it legit. <br><br>
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I am seriously loving everything I came home with. Plus with killer prices I'd say I'm ..Happy Cheap:)
Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-57025285717599461942014-05-28T11:13:00.002-07:002014-07-14T11:31:32.958-07:00Pink and Brass Bamboo NightstandI found this nightstand on Craigslist for $15 this spring. It sat in my basement waiting for spray paint weather to arrive. <br>
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I didn't really have a need for it but loved the bamboo details and brass campaign style brackets. Since it was going to stay in the basement as additional toy storage I thought it would fun to paint it bright pink to pick up on a few pink accents in the artwork and girls toys scattered around the room. <br>
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It's not easy to see in pictures but this was probably the most junky piece of furniture I've ever purchased. Nail polish globs and stickers sprinkled all over plus the top slightly bubbled up with chipped particle board on the bottom. Polish remover came to the rescue and a quick pass over with the sander helped mostly level the top. No way was I going to spend a lot of time or energy on this piece. Spray primer and spray paint were the quickest way to cover the yellow speckled finish. I just taped the drawers a bit and left them in to keep things moving.<br>
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I used 2 coats of Zinnser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Spray Primer and 3 coats of Krylon Watermelon Gloss. Be warned, this color is intense. The picture without the drawers is the most accurate color representation.<br>
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<br><br>The best thing about this nightstand is the bamboo hardware. First I cleaned it with ketchup than scrubbed it with Brasso and an old toothbrush.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0fvqV-e95BY/U4Ylm4XoFEI/AAAAAAAAAyY/c4V0qprYe_Y/s1600/Picture+229_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0fvqV-e95BY/U4Ylm4XoFEI/AAAAAAAAAyY/c4V0qprYe_Y/s400/Picture+229_opt.jpg"></a></div>
<br>The color looks so crazy here but wanted to give an idea what it will look like with my rattan chairs back in the basement.<br><br>
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Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-39227970301893775742014-04-30T07:40:00.000-07:002014-05-03T10:00:12.194-07:00Gold Duck Tape Striped BedThe girls bunk beds have been in a state of limbo for a few months now. I got around to a couple of quick updates to polish it up a bit this past week. The last we saw their beds it looked like this.<br />
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After completing a few projects for the room like painting the <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/lilac-campaign-dressers.html">lilac campaign dressers</a>, <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/glossy-lamp-makeover.html">a glossy lamp makeover</a> and creating a <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/12/les-touches-inspired-bulletin-board.html">Les Touches inspired cork board</a>, I took a few months off from working on the room. One area that had been bugging me was the plain plywood that supported to upper bunk. I did not enjoy looking at it while reading stories to my girls on the lower bunk but wasn't sure what to do with it.<br />
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First I decided to simply whitewash the plywood to cover up the orange undertones while still letting the wood grain show.<br />
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Using leftover wall paint, I mixed 1 part paint with 2 parts water in a medium bowl. After removing the bedding and mattress the mixture was painted on with the plywood still in place on the upper bunk. I wanted this to be a quick update and didn't want to break out the power drill or deal with moving the heavy plywood to the ground. After 2 back to back coats the deed was done and all was good. <br />
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But it was a little boring. So boring I forgot to take a picture.<br />
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It needed a little something extra so I headed over to Hobby Lobby for gold Duck Tape to add some stripes. At this point it became necessary to remove the plywood to have straight lines and clean edges. Two and a half roles were needed which resulted in an additional trip and an extra day for the project. Tabs of blue painters tape were used as spacers. The stripes took a little longer than anticipated to tape on but it was super easy and turned out great.<br />
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Here is an up close shot of the stripes. They are reflective but not too shiny.<br/>
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I also sewed two fabric panels for under the bed to create a faux bed skirt. The fabric was a Nate Berkus sheet that was used for piping on the <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/12/bench-slipcover.html">slipcovered bench</a> next to the bed. Plastic storage boxes no longer take center stage in the room - yay! Now I do have a little secret, they are only taped on at the moment. I plan on adding velcro but for now a little Duck Tape is doing a pretty good job at holding it up :)
Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-55108240844855362752014-04-14T11:43:00.001-07:002014-04-15T06:48:51.445-07:00Greek Key Frame and Foo Dog UpdateI love Greek Key and have wanted to incorporate it in my home forever. I stumbled across this frame while thrifting for $7. At first I put it back on the shelf but kept thinking about it and decided it was worth it.<br />
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It sat in my house for a month while I tried to decide what to do. Paint it? Maybe one color for the raised Greek Key and another for the rest? Swap out the art for something more colorful or modern? I had no idea and then decided to simply highlight the key detail with my favorite Antique Gold Rub n Buff leaving the rest of the frame in its original condition. The red art had to go and I left the frame empty. As a temporary experiment I also taped some grosgrain ribbon to the back so a little would peek through for contrast.
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I propped the frame behind a new Foo Dog found on Craigslist for $5. It was a cement lawn decoration in not great shape so it received 2 coats of Rustoleum Night Tide Enamel. This spray paint was leftover from painting a <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/for-love-ofbamboo.html">campaign chest that sits in front of the Greek Key stair railing seen in this post</a>.
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Along with my <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2014/04/70s-lamps-spray-paint-makeover.html">newly made over 70's lamps</a> I am finally happy with the bar area. An update on the lamps - I really wanted barrel shades but was having no luck until I stumbled upon some cheap RE base/shade combos at Target. They were on sale for buy one get an additional one for 1/2 off. Even though I only needed the shades it was still a great deal. Plus they were missing a base so I walked out the store with 2 shades and one base for $14! I also nixed the gold/ivory trim because it was weird.
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With the exception of paint and the blue glass twig object that was my husband's grandmothers, everything on this bar came in at $36 -lamps, shades, tray, brass vase, foo dog and frame. I love it!.<br/><br/>Sharing this at <a href="http://homefor4sweethome.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-diyers-party-time.html">HomeFor4SweetHome</a>.Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-59945778491585423372014-04-10T12:11:00.000-07:002014-04-10T15:16:14.921-07:0070's Lamps Spray Paint MakeoverFor a while I've been on the hunt for two matching lamps for the bar in the living room. It only had one lamp so that area was dark plus it looked a little off balance. This was during the holidays and not much changed except removing the mini gold tinsel trees.<br />
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I would have loved to find the matching Nate Berkus lamp but wasn't having any luck. Finally this week I stumbled upon these harvest gold and brown beauties while thrifting.<br />
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I loved the chunky bases and size. They are 12" tall from base to light socket so just right for a bar table. They were only $3 each and to find a pair of thrift lamps is not always easy. Immediately I primed and painted them Heirloom White.<br />
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After taping off the socket and cord I sprayed 3 light coats of primer followed up with 3 light coats of paint 40 minutes later. <br />
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Finally a glossy clear coat was added with a heavy hand the next day. It amped up the glam factor and added an extra layer of protection. This was similar to the method used for freshen up the girls <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/glossy-lamp-makeover.html">glossy double gourd lamp</a>. <br />
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Here is a freshly painted lamp in its new home.<br />
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Last minute I decided to add a bit of ivory and gold trim to the top of the lamp. It's binder clipped in the back while I decide if it works. Ooh, glossy...<br />
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A few other changes were made to accessories so the full shot of both lamps plus updates will be soon!
Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-22764779626418738292014-03-21T08:21:00.001-07:002014-04-11T08:09:18.757-07:00Upholstered Velvet Nailhead HeadboardMy son Robert switched rooms in December to what use to be the nursery. This room has looked mostly the same for the last 7 years. Same paint, same curtains, same dresser. The only thing that changed was the 3 three babies swapping in and out as needed. Now that the space is officially his I was ready to start tweaking the space for him. A new headboard was first on the to do list. Headboards are really very simple to make. All that was needed was:<br />
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5/8 Underlayment Particle Board ($20 but enough for 2 headboards)<br />
Egg Crate Foam ($12)<br />
Batting ($6)<br />
Fabric 1.5 yds (velvet $17 per yard so $26)<br />
Staple Gun, Staples<br />
Yardstick, Hammer, Nail<br />
Nailheads ($7)<br />
Total if purchasing all materials except gun and staples $62 - Not Bad!<br />
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Most supplies were already on hand from previous projects like the kid friendly gray Sunbrella velvet leftover from <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/10/reupholstered-living-room-couch.html">recovering a sofa</a>. The only purchases were $6 for batting and $7 for nailheads. First Mike cut the particle board to my measurements of 30" x 41". <br />
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Egg crate foam was cut to 39" x 29" to leave a 1" foam free edge along the sides and top. <br />
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The batting was laid smooth on the ground, then the foam followed with the particle board. I took some extra time to make sure the foam was lined up correctly with the board. The batting was stapled all around paying close attention to the corners ensuring a smooth fit.<br />
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Next the fabric was placed wrong side up on the floor followed with my newly "batted" board. The fabric was then cut leaving a 3" border all the way around.<br />
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Using the staple gun again, I attached the fabric with 3 staples in the center portion of each side. Then I kept on stapling, alternating opposite sides. The key for this step was ensuring a tight fit, flipping the board over frequently to check my work. <br />
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That was the easy part. I really wanted nailhead trim thinking it would no problem. Well it is pretty easy...if you like crooked lines and lots of bent nails that need to be discarded. I thought I could just measure the holes and tap my upholstery nails in. The particle board was so hard that many of the nails went in totally crooked. So I did what any normal person would do - stopped the project and felt guilty for the next three months while the headboard sat unfinished. <br />
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Finally this week I bit the bullet and completed it yeah! All I needed to do was hammer in a regular nail a bit into the board then remove it so the decorative nailhead would sink properly into the headboard. Using a yardstick I marked a small dot every 3/4" and proceeded with adding the nailheads. <br />
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Finally it is behind my son's bed. A few nailheads are missing on the side because I ran out from throwing away so many in the beginning. The next trip to the store will remedy that problem. Currently he's digging Star Wars but I think this headboard would complement whatever phase he's into next. <br />
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Since we're in his room here are a few other shots of the space.<br />
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The large painting was my husband's as a young boy and Mike's mom painted the top picture. I love seeing them hanging in my son's room. The wood ceiling circles are original to the house and the large corkboard was only $2 at a thrift store. The camouflage pillow was sewed per special request from my son. He doesn't ask for much when it comes to his room so if he wants a camo pillow, a camo pillow is what he'll get! Eventually the glider will be replaced with a desk but for now it works.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="The Shabby Nest" src="http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j480/theshabbynest/Shabby%20Nest%20Blog%205-2011/ShabbyNest-GrabButton.png" /></a>
Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-52469183817700432652014-03-04T11:04:00.000-08:002014-03-04T11:04:51.376-08:00Painted Bathroom NookYou know when you just can't take something the way it's always been in your house for..one..more..second..? That was how how I felt towards a little nook in the first floor bathroom. <br />
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While perusing Pinterest suddenly I had the urge to to paint it right that moment. It would have been cool to introduce a print or bolder color but the only thing on hand that would work was a gray paint sample from Sherwin Williams, Mindful Gray. So off I went to scrounge up supplies from the basement. Two coats and one hour later I was looking at this.<br />
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Look at that transformation! What a huge difference! What...you don't see it? In person the gray paint stands out more than these pictures. Unfortunately this small bathroom has no natural light and iphones can only take, well iphone pictures.<br />
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When placing items back on the shelves I switched a few things up. Out went the distressed metal planter from Anthropolgie replaced with various milk glass vases. Also a few books were placed between the alabaster horse bookends.<br />
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Since we're taking a peek into this bathroom for the first time here are highlights of other items in the space. After purchasing the house we replaced the grey pedestal sink with a white wash basin and polished nickel faucet from RH. I've always loved this style of sink and thought it would go well with the existing marble floor and 100 year old house. <br />
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I totally fell for this nickel light fixture on clearance from William Sonoma Home
and calendar prints hang in frames from IKEA..<br />
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Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-89040273159940795772014-02-24T11:42:00.000-08:002014-02-25T13:24:11.525-08:00Dn..Dn..Dn.., Another Lamp Bites the DustIt's been quiet around the Steffes house with projects and such. Life has been crazy the last few weeks but it's time to get back in the swing of things. <br />
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Sadly one of my most prized possessions no longer functions. This metal leaf lamp was purchased from an vintage design shop years ago for an embarrassing amount of money. I loved it and always appreciated it's unique beauty. It most recently lived on a white accent table in the living room.<br />
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At some point someone welded together the metal base with the main rod of the body that use to be threaded. Over time it started to come undone and now looks like this.<br />
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I looked for an inexpensive placeholder to make do until it's repaired. Once again Goodwill pulled through and I scored this double gourd Threshhold lamp for $4.50 that I had previously admired at Target.<br/>
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For the lampshade I stole a small black lampshade from another lamp in the house and used some Rub N Buff to change the silver lining to gold.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnLCAvC10gw/UwuQd_cFcrI/AAAAAAAAArA/mzbXE3aSjeY/s1600/Picture+179_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnLCAvC10gw/UwuQd_cFcrI/AAAAAAAAArA/mzbXE3aSjeY/s320/Picture+179_opt.jpg" /></a></div>Surpisingly I really love it in the space. I see it eventually moving into my son's room down the road and now the stolen lampshade needs to be replaced. <br/><br/>Finding lampshades is kind of difficult if you're on a tiny budget like mine. It was impossible to find a large affordable drum shade for this vintage bamboo lamp. Eventually I came across a clearance lamp with the exact shade envisioned at Homegoods. Even though the base wasn't needed, for only $25 it was cheaper than buying just the shade at most places. With a little added black ribbon trim, the shade now tops the bamboo lamp in front entrance area of the living room.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rMDVmJWLt9s/UwuQzP-6hLI/AAAAAAAAArI/pGVhfDiBWDI/s1600/Picture+182_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rMDVmJWLt9s/UwuQzP-6hLI/AAAAAAAAArI/pGVhfDiBWDI/s320/Picture+182_opt.jpg" /></a></div><br/><br/>As for the Homegoods lamp base it ended up in the guest bed area of the basement. But of course it now needs a lampshade....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THuyUMRENSA/Uwufe1u2I1I/AAAAAAAAArY/NnLJGMHdvec/s1600/Picture+183_opt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THuyUMRENSA/Uwufe1u2I1I/AAAAAAAAArY/NnLJGMHdvec/s320/Picture+183_opt.jpg" /></a></div>
Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-28192864171510822372014-01-27T15:32:00.001-08:002014-01-30T11:57:52.191-08:00Shopping Thrift Store Style...#2My obsession with a good deal continues. After making the bi-monthly Goodwill drop-off I popped in to check out the goods. Usually I walk out empty handed but this time I hit the jackpot. <br />
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Everything except the wicker stool was from the Threshhold Target line. Target donates unsold merchandise to Salvation Army and Goodwill. The Target price tags were still on this stuff! These items were put on the shelves that day which is why I was able to snag them.<br />
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Okay so let's break it down.<br />
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Wicker Stool $5<br />
2 Snakeskin Pillows $4 each<br />
Gold Serving Tray $7<br />
2 Mini Metallic Ornament Trees $2 each<br />
Total Spent $24<br />
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The stool was purchased because we currently have 3 discontinued Stefano Pottery Barn stools in the kitchen and have desperately needed an additional one. After searching Craigslist and Ebay for over a year with no luck I had to go in a new direction. This stool is similar in color to the kitchen cabinetry and takes up little visual space since it's backless. I will still continue to look for the matching Pottery Barn stool but this will do until then.<br />
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I loved the mini ornament trees the moment I spotted them. The ornaments are silver, champagne, gold and copper so they will play nice with everything else around it. And for only $2 each such a steal. <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/12/new-tablecloth-and-other-decor-updates.html">My wreath with ornaments</a> from the dollar store still cost about $16 to make so these were a no brainer for next holiday. <br />
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Now why did I purchase ANOTHER tray? It's gold. It's animal print. It's a tray. Plus a good friend with great taste already has this in her home. Enough said.<br />
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Finally the pair of snakeskin pillows. Finding any cheap accessory item in pairs is downright exciting. Plus it would cost way more than $8 to make pillows like these. The faux leather metallic piping is spot on so hopefully they will work in the girls room. <br />
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Did I just post one of the most boring pictures of a girls room ever? Yes I did. But this is real life and putting together these rooms takes time. I've already painted the <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/lilac-campaign-dressers.html">lilac dressers</a>, remade a <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/glossy-lamp-makeover.html">thrift store lamp</a> and spruced up a <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/12/les-touches-inspired-bulletin-board.html">gold animal print bulletin board</a> for these little ladies. Hanging curtains are next on the list!<br/><br/>
Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-65229356822460605962014-01-24T15:33:00.000-08:002014-01-26T09:20:24.060-08:00Easiest Little Girls Dress EverI'm all about keeping projects short and simple. Well this girls sundress is as easy as it gets. One day when trolling the clearance aisle at Joann Fabric my 4 year old spotted this fabric and was obsessed with it. <br />
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With an additional 50% off the sale price I picked up a half yard for $6. My plan was to cut it to make 2 dresses, one for each of my girls. After hemming the bottom, a basic straight stitch attached the sides of the fabric to create a tube. A 2 inch strip of leftover fabric was folded and sewed to make the straps.<br />
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The seam is on the side and barely noticeable. My daughter wanted the dress very long and has been wearing it around the house everyday since. <br />
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The dress will grow with her for a few years of use. When she saw the camera she went right into her Tae Kwon Do kicks and blocks followed with these poses. <br />
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Unfortunately I was a little short of fabric to make the second dress. I sewed it together anyway and my youngest happily squeezed herself into it to be like her big sis.<br />
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Not the typical clothing choice for the "Polar Vortex" we're experiencing but the girls love it!
Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-25646356635319393542014-01-03T08:51:00.000-08:002014-01-13T13:32:31.989-08:00Bentwood Chair MakeoverWould you pass this chair up if it was on the curb waiting to be saved?<br />
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Well I couldn't. There are so many things to love about this chair - the bent wood, vintage vibe and small scale. Just a basic fabric seat recover, clean the wood frame and voila new chair! Mostly. See, it had 3 layers of fabric that were stapled like staples were going out of style. <br />
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After removing all the fabrics the thin foam pad was peeled and scraped off the seat. The wood circle seat was tightly covered with an additinal vinyl layer that proved too difficult to remove so I scrubbed it down with soap and water to remove years and years of grime. The frame was wiped down multiple times with a damp cloth followed with a good rub down of Old English Scratch Cover. The wood was very dry and soaked up the oil easily leaving a weathered medium brown stain. <br />
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I used an indoor/outdoor fabric purchased at JoAnn Fabric that was left over from <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/10/when-good-pillows-go-bad-lesson-on.html">this pillow cover</a>. It has a linen look but I prefer the lighter backside.<br />
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Foam was cut from some leftover egg crate foam already on hand. Also I was out of batting and didn't want to make another trip to the store so an old sheet had to make do. The sheet was stapled on followed by the teal fabric. <br />
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Even though the seat wasn't secured on when I found it, Mike used a couple of screws to attach it from underneath. Here she is.<br />
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This chair immediately went into action on Christmas Eve since we hosted 35 family members for dinner at our house and were short seating. Since then it has found a new home at the kids craft table in the office.<br />
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Once again a completely free project. I'm not afraid of the kids damaging it and have always loved vintage bentwood chairs. Now I finally have one!<br />
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<a href="http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="The Shabby Nest" src="http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j480/theshabbynest/Shabby%20Nest%20Blog%205-2011/ShabbyNest-GrabButton.png" /></a><br/><br/><a
href="http://ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com"><img alt="party" width="180" src="http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b530/ishouldbemoppingthefloor/inspiration_monday_party_zpsc6865a95.jpg"
height="180"/></a>Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-28743002530649727962013-12-16T07:55:00.002-08:002013-12-16T11:59:54.821-08:00New Tablecloth and Other Decor UpdatesThere have been a few project updates going on around here the last few weeks. I finally got around to hemming a huge end of bolt fabric purchase from Jo-Ann Fabric. For only $13 we now have a new dark blue polka dot tablecloth that accomodates the table when fully extended with both leaves. <br />
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In the background you may have noticed a new holiday wreath. I went directly off of <a href="http://www.livelovediy.com/2012/12/christmas-ornament-wreath.html">this tutorial </a>using plastic dollar store ornaments and a foam floral ring from Michaels. I needed about $11 worth of ornaments which included some small gold and silver jingle bells to fit in the smaller gaps. The foam ring was spray painted beige in case any spots peeped through and jute string was used to hang. This close up picture does not do the color justice which made it appear much more yellow than it really is.<br />
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Next a cheapo clear plastic frame was studded out with brass studs normally found on leather goods straight from <a href="http://cuckoo4design.blogspot.com/2013/10/diy-studded-acryliclucite-tray.html">this tutorial</a>. Come on, ain't it cool?<br />
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And finally after spotting <a href="http://rainonatinroof.com/2013/11/target-dollar-spot-trays-hack/">this $1 tray hack </a>I picked up two of the hexagon trays from Target's Dollar Spot. Using my new favorite handy dandy Krylon Gold Leaf Pen they now looks tres chic...<br />
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<br />Right now they hold a few dollar store gold trees for the holidays.
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<br />Gotta love the humongous painting of my dad.
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<br/>While many times I'm winging it when doing things around the house, I just had to try out some of these fun projects from other people's blogs. Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel when others have already done such a great job!Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-59195932517997560792013-12-15T11:21:00.000-08:002014-01-13T14:31:52.926-08:00Bench SlipcoverDo you have a piece of furniture you just had to have and now look at it and say to yourself, "why oh why"? Well I do. In fact I have a house full of questionable purchases. I still like most of them but payed way too much and didn't think how they would work with kids. This bench was purchase from RH back in 2005.<br>
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It's been in the girls room so Mike and I could have a place to sit. Ususally it's covered in a quilt because the fabric shows stains easily. I finally decided to tackle a slipcover in my quest to conquer my sewing machine. <br>
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I started with <a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/Millie-Berry-fabric-P2904.aspx">this amazing fabric from TonicLiving</a>. Let me tell you, it is even more gorgeous in person. This fabric has the most lovely shades of lavender and plum with little hits of dark blue, grass green and greige. Since it was the inspiration for the entire room I decided to order two yards even though it was a little more than I originally planned to spend. <br>
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After the fabric was washed and dried a large top piece was cut with piping which was pinned then sewed on. This was only the second time I've made piping and I improved my technique a bit. I didn't sew as closely when making the piping so the stitches would be covered when sewing all the pieces together. I also overlapped the piping fabric following the instructions from <a href="http://noelleodesigns.com/tutorials/pillow-sham-with-zipper-and-piping/">this tutorial</a>. I used an old Nate Berkus for Linens N Things sheet (this was his line years ago before Target) for the piping and each corner because the color worked and there wasn't enough floral fabric for these parts.<br>
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I then cut and hemmed the four small corner, two short side side and two long side pieces. The top edge was zigzag stitched to prevent fraying. <br>
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The four floral pieces were pinned followed by four corner pieces on top of that. This took some adjusting and repinning to make sure the fabric all fell to same length. This shows how the corner looked pinned. The floral side panels are pinned and laying on top of the bench so you are seeing the "wrong side" of the fabric in this picture.<br>
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With a little patience all eight panels were stitched on in. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Was it going to lay straight... Was the fabric going to bunch...Thank goodness it worked!<br>
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Now the girls room is starting to make more sense design wise. The <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/lilac-campaign-dressers.html">lavender dresser's</a> color was pulled from this fabric along with the green trim added to the <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/glossy-lamp-makeover.html">lamp that was made over</a>.<br>
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<br/><a href="http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="The Shabby Nest" src="http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j480/theshabbynest/Shabby%20Nest%20Blog%205-2011/ShabbyNest-GrabButton.png" /></a><br/><br/><a href="http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20DIY%27ers" target="_blank" title="Running on Happiness"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8492982155_c22507aecc_t.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="The DIY'ers" /></a> />Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-43049270651367380502013-12-02T08:09:00.001-08:002013-12-03T11:24:26.702-08:00Les Touches Inspired Bulletin BoardI am still in love with the <a href="https://www.houseofpemberley.com/p/98/brunschwig-fils-les-touches">Les Touches </a>fabric. I couldn't spend the $$ on it when making <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-first-zippered-pillow-cover-and-blog.html">this pillow cover </a>but still wanted that print to live somewhere in my house in a bad way. Since I'm currently in the process of redoing my girls room, I thought I could bring in a little DIY Les Touches to their room in a fun way. My 4 year old daughter loves everything metallic and shiny so I decided to try my hand with a paint pen.<br />
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This cork board was purchased for $3 at Goodwill.<br />
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The wood frame had a clear topcoat so I gave it a light sanding then sprayed with Zinsser 1-2-3 Primer. <br />
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Two coats of white paint were rolled on to fully cover the cork and brushed onto the frame. I was fortunate to find copies of the Les Touches fabric I could print from <a href="http://www.thehousemadehome.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-spots-les-touches-fabric-hack.html">this wonderful blog</a>. The paper copies were a guide but I didn't follow them exactly. Many people have projectors for projects like this but I just tried free hand and hoped for the best. <br />
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By the way did you see the paint pen I used? It's Krylons 18K Gold Leafing Pen and it's great! The gold paint has a beautiful warm tone and is very reflective. At first I was going to use a gold Sharpie but was worried it wouldn't be metallic enough. With a 50% coupon it was $4.50 at Hobby Lobby so not the cheapest paint pen around but it helped make my amateur attempt look decent.<br />
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The spots were a little tedious to paint on. I knocked it out in four 15 minute sessions while catching up on The Voice after the kiddos went to bed. Halfway through I decided to add a few more spots than the inspiration fabric because it looked a little off. Here it is hanging on the girl's wall over their newly painted <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/lilac-campaign-dressers.html">lilac campaign dressers</a>.<br />
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<br/>With time this board will fill up with special pictures and treasures. A few gold spots will peek through as an added bonus. Now I've satisfied my Les Touches dreams and gold shiny animal print is what little girls dream of right?Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-71403834366577288842013-11-25T08:26:00.001-08:002013-11-25T08:26:22.004-08:00For The Love Of...BambooOkay I admit it. I love bamboo. Fabric, furniture, accessories, you name it and I'm interested. Over the past couple of years I've collected quite a bit of this stuff in my home because it looks good everywhere. <br />
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I know you're wondering "Tara, where did this obsession come from?". Well I recently came across some childhood photos that I hadn't seen in forever. This is our kitchen booth in the house I spent most of my younger years in. Look at that wallpaper and light fixture. And yes I'm a little overly excited in yellow.<br />
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And our family spent a lot of time at this place sitting in those awesome chairs. <br />
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So here is rundown of my bamboo pieces. I made four of these frames using plain pine frames from Target, river cane cut to size and gold paint with an antique glaze.<br />
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This is a huge 31" Paul Hanson lamp found at Goodwill for $3.20. I need to repaint the base but holy cow what a steal. I found a pair of these exact lamps on ebay for $400. <br />
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This thrifted tray was purchased for $1. <br />
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These chairs were found on Craigslist already in this incredible pattern. <br />
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Also a Craigslist find for $25. I spray painted the chair Valspar Plumberry and had the cushions professionally made in Ralph Lauren's Sand Leopard print fabric. <br />
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Six dining room chairs from Craigslist (notice a theme here?) for around $250 were spray painted Rustoleum's Heirloom White. <br />
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And finally a silver bowl with bamboo handles that was my mom's. We use it to hold the remotes in the family room. <br />
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Bamboo brings wonderful detail into a space without looking too feminine. Also since we live in a smaller house bamboo chairs don't block the line of sight which help rooms appear more spacious. Thank goodness with some patience great vintage pieces can be found!Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-44459962024023601372013-11-22T08:28:00.000-08:002013-11-22T08:55:57.633-08:00Lilac Campaign Dressers Remember when I found these beauties of <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/10/campaign-dressers.html">this shopping trip</a>?<br />
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Well I decided to tackle them this past week. It was time consuming so I broke it down into steps and tried to knock something out everyday until they were finally completed last night. It only took 30 minutes to pry off the hardware with a handy steak knife.<br />
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I decided on the color Enchant by Sherwin Williams. It's the third color down on the paint strip. <br />
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For supplied I used Zinsser Cover Stain primer because it sticks to everything. I love Sherwin Williams ProClassic because of its durable finish that doesn't require a topcoat. Finally a little Rub n Buff was needed for select hardware pieces.<br />
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My dining room turned into a makeshift painting room after pushing the furniture to the wall. This is after the first coat of primer. <br />
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I waited a full day before applying the second coat of primer and two days between the two coats of paint. Here is one of the dressers before all of the hardware was put back on.<br />
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The handles were cleaned up after soaking in ketchup which worked great. Oddly the discs and brackets were not solid brass so I applied Antique Gold Rub n Buff to them for a decent match to the handles. <br />
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Here they are sitting pretty still in my dining room. I couldn't help but style it a little with the <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/glossy-lamp-makeover.html">makeover lamp</a> and <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/painted-tray.html">tray</a> to see what it might actually look like in the girls room. <br />
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The second coat of paint goes on the walls in the girls room today so hopefully the dressers will move upstairs this weekend. Once the new curtains are hung along with a few more updates their room will be done. Come back next week to see the full reveal (and better pictures)! Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-91403271313740590312013-11-13T08:42:00.001-08:002013-11-22T11:46:57.070-08:00Paint Chip ArtThere are many amazing paint chip art projects floating around and I was interested in creating my own. <a href="http://www.thisyellowhouse.com/2013/05/scallop-art-using-circle-punch.html">This piece </a>and <a href="http://www.thisyellowhouse.com/2013/05/scallop-art-using-circle-punch.html">this piece </a>were my main sources of inspiration. Just so you know I don't scoop up tons of these paint strips at the hardware store. I only pick up two or three occasionally when making my usual run to the store. I do buy paint from these places so I'm okay with it. <br />
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Only a few supplies were needed to get started. The large hole punch was $11 with a 40% coupon and I purchased a $4 brown bamboo frame from Goodwill that was spray painted Heirloom White.<br />
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The stack of paint strip samples probably took about 9 months to accumulate.<br />
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After punching out the ovals in the colors I was interested in I did a dry run to see how I liked the layout. This is what I ended up with after playing around with the pieces.<br />
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I then carefully stacked all the pieces in order by layer and set them to the side. Rub n Buff was applied by finger on the particle board insert that came with the frame. About a half hour later I attached the ovals with glue starting with the outer layer. It definitely helped looking at the picture of the dry run to remember the placement of each piece. Here is an upclose shot of the antique gold backround with the paint chips.<br />
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Some Mod Podge was brushed on to only the ovals to add dimension to the finished piece. Here it is hanging on the living room wall.<br />
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What's great about this project is customizing the colors to fit your decor. I was looking for ways to add a little berry or pink to the space and this fit the bill. Now I have to figure out what to do with the leftover paint chips that were punched but not used...<br />
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Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-65248014733996213842013-11-11T08:43:00.000-08:002013-11-14T08:38:53.309-08:00Glossy Lamp MakeoverRecently I found this lamp at Salvation Army for only $5. The double gourd shape was gorgeous and I just knew with a new coat of paint it would be perfect for the girls room.<br />
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I read <a href="http://blog.houseoffifty.com/2012/03/how-to-get-high-end-look-for-less-table.html">this great tutorial </a>on how to spray paint a lamp and decided to go for it. First the cord and socket were covered with plastic bags then taped off.<br />
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I decided on on Rustoleum's Universal Paint and Primer in One because it has great adhesion properties and the white color is a true white without being too bright. Three thin coats sprayed a few minutes apart were needed to fully cover the dark brown lamp base. This project was started just as the sun was setting so the white looks a little different by the third coat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Coat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Coat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third Coat</td></tr>
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While painting two bugs landed on the lamp. I worried I'd have to sand and add another coat the next day. I waited until the next day and lightly brushed them off. Luckily there were no marks so I then finished the lamp off with two coats of Rustoleum Clear Gloss. These coats were a little thicker to make the lamp as glossy as possible.<br />
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Here it is up close. Look at that shine!<br />
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Topped with a plain white barrel shade is fine for now. I'm on the lookout for some fun trim to add once I have a better idea of where the room is going colorwise.<br />
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<br />Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-86465889082341993032013-11-06T07:35:00.000-08:002013-11-06T07:35:17.690-08:00Shopping Thrift Store StyleLast Saturday I visited a small thrift store that I'd never been to before . Wow it was full of great accessories. The entire store was 50% off which made the prices hard to pass up. There were many more items I loved but didn't want to spend more than $10 so this is what I ended up with.<br />
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Look at these 5.5" tall alabaster horse bookends for only $5. <br />
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And these zippers were only 25 cents each.The original price is still on the packaging for 65 cents. Any guesses to how old they are?<br />
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The upholstery fabric was 1 yard for $1.25, milk glass dish 50 cents and hammered brass planter $2.50. The entire purchase came in only at $10.25! <br />
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I also stopped by Joanne Fabric and spotted this textured fabric in the remnant section. <br />
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In person the blue is a tad lighter, almost like a denim blue. The fabric is 66" wide and I purchased the entire 3.5 yards left for a total of $13. Once hemmed it will be a perfect tablecoth for my formal dining table with both leaves. Or I might be tempted to use it in the kids rooms upstairs.<br />
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Anyone else come across some crazy deals lately?Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-1824894620731273792013-11-04T08:50:00.000-08:002013-11-04T20:43:35.212-08:00Ribbon Trim PillowI love ribbon trim on pillows. While Greek key is one of my favorite design details it's a little too complicated for me at this point. I decided on a simple border to add to a dropcloth pillow cover. The ribbon was a deep teal 7/8" from Michael's purchased at 50% off for $2.<br />
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Now to be honest I attempted this a year ago using one continuous piece of ribbon and hem tape. From a distance or after a few too many glasses of wine it looked okay. But up close it looked like this.<br />
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I've washed it a couple times which led to the corner peeling up. And don't you love my um...45ish degree angles? Embarrassing.<br />
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Well I wanted to redeem myself from that debacle and this time was going to do it right. I started by cutting a fabric square to cover my pillow form. Then I cut 4 equal pieces of ribbon roughly one inch shorter than the lenth of the fabric. <br />
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Two pieces were matched up and I marked a 45 degree angle using a white pencil, ruler and the lines on my sewing matt.<br />
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The ribbon was pinned and sewn together on the marked line.<br />
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This was repeated three more times carefully measuring where the next ribbon would attach so each side was exactly the same length. I was left with a perfect square which was then pinned onto the dropcloth fabric.<br />
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After that it was easy breezy. I sewed down the inside then outside of the square trim taking my time so the stiches were straight. Each edge was then finished with a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. I decided on an envelope back so 2 pieces of fabric were cut with the one exposed side of each piece hemmed. Then the 3 pieces of fabric were pinned right sides facing together to create a 4" overlap on the back. <br />
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It turned out so much better than the first time. With this one I don't have to tell the kids to stop picking at it.<br />
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Now there are two matching ribbon trim pillows, just don't look at the one on the right too closely:) <br />
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On a side note during this project my daughter asked for a piece of scrap ribbon. 15 minutes later I walked into the office to find this.<br />
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All on her own she stapled the ribbon to the edge of a large piece of paper then colored the rest of the blue border with various crayons and markers. She insisted on also making a pillow so we stapled another piece of paper to the back and stuffed it with crumpled scraps. Of course she had to add a smiley face to make it a "Happy Pillow". Here it is after she personally styled it on the couch. <br />
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Her pillow making was by far my most favorite part of this project!Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-542398087893407892013-11-01T08:57:00.003-07:002013-11-01T08:57:27.875-07:00Rescued Painted Toy ShelfOur town like many others has Amnesty Day once a year (or two depending on garbage company) where residents leave large debris, garbage and just stuff they don't want anymore on their curbs. This turns into a free for all for pickers, scrap metal collectors and anyone interested in some free furniture. I saved <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/10/curbside-ottoman-makeover.html">this ottoman </a>from the dumpster already and also found this scrappy little shelf. It's a simple structure and looks like it was slapped together quickly. <br />
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I had asked Mike to build something similar to house our sons trucks. While this wasn't exactly what I had in mind, it was sturdy and required zero effort on my husbands part. Which meant it was perfect. Obviously it had been well cared for - um not. Look at this detail, how could I pass it up?<br />
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This was a perfect opportunity to take advantage of some free labor so my son started wiping off the grass, dirt and general grossness that had accumulated on the shelf. <br />
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A power sander was used to smooth down the rough edges followed by a quick wipedown with an old damp t-shirt. I opted to skip primer and use paints already on hand. Some SW light grey, a sample pot of Valspar green and turqoise craft paint were mixed together. After the first coat there wasn't much paint left so I applied a second coat to just the top and sides. <br />
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In person the color looks similar to the <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/kids-mini-jewelry-dresser.html">kids jewelry dresser </a>I painted except the shelf color is a little softer due to the added grey paint. While it would have been nice if it was a little longer and deeper, more importantly it is short enough to fit under the roll arm of the couch. It also provides a spot to set something down while sitting on the couch. And it was free. I love free. Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-70180987641812799652013-10-30T07:54:00.000-07:002013-10-30T07:54:21.608-07:00Campaign Dressers These two beauties were purchased last week from Craigslist for only $40. For both. Seriously. They are 43" high and 34" wide. When positioned next to each other like in the picture, that is 68" of storage for next to nothing. <br />
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Look at the brass detail. This is what I love best about them.<br />
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This lamp also called my name at Salvation Army a few days ago. For only $5 how could I leave her? <br />
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Currently the dressers are in my dining room until I paint them and move them upstairs to a bedroom. This next month we are going to switch the kids rooms around. My two oldest currently share a room while the 2 year old is still in the nursery. My son will move to the nursery since it is smaller and the two girls will share the larger room. And by larger I mean still really small. This 100 year old house is a little on the cramped side.<br />
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I envision the two campaign dressers side by side in the girls room painted a soft lilac or light blue. It all depends on the inspiration fabric I have yet to find. The lamp will be spray painted a glossy color and probably go on top of the dressers also. The nursery will turn into a big kid room for my son but have no idea yet on color scheme. It will be interesting to see what direction the kids rooms take.Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-16475916367978347332013-10-28T08:50:00.000-07:002013-10-28T13:29:11.225-07:00When Good Pillows Go Bad, A Lesson on PipingThis past week I decided to try two new pillow sewing projects that I'd never done before. The first one was attempting piping on a pillow. After sewing many basic pillow covers I felt ready to tackle this fabulous detail. How hard could it be right? Well...I made a few mistakes and hopefully any new sewers out there can learn some things not to do. <br />
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There are lots of tutorials out their with great details on the specifics for this type of project like <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2010/06/sewing-101-piping.html">this one </a>and <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2013/07/diy-leather-pillow-tutorial-how-to-sew.html">this one</a>. For the most part I followed them so here is just a basic rundown of what I did.<br />
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Making the piping was very simple. I saved the cording from <a href="http://steffesinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/10/curbside-ottoman-makeover.html">this curbside rescue </a>that wasn't reused on that project. A few strips of fabric were cut on a 45 degree angle and sewn together to create one long continuous strip of fabric. <br />
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Using my zipper foot which came with the sewing machine, I sewed the fabric close to the cord. <br />
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The piping was then pinned to the front facing fabric. Little cuts on the extra piping fabric were made on the corners to allow for it to bend.<br />
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Next a basic 14" zipper was sewn onto the 2 pieces of fabric for the back of the pillow fabric. I used the same fabric as the piping since the front fabric was on the expensive side.<br />
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The front and back fabric pieces right sides facing each other were then sewed together staying as close to the piping as possible. Here is the finished pillow.<br />
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So where are the mistakes? There are 3 main things that really bother me about this pillow. First, when pinning the piping onto the leopard fabric I should have rounded the corners more. Also the piping shifted when sewing onto one of the corners. Doesn't it look like a little peninsula sticking out on the top right?<br />
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Next, I don't know what I was thinking when attaching the zipper on the two back fabrics. I sewed as close to the zipper as I could with the zipper foot attachment. That's fine with piping but not with zippers! Well, now it is so close the zipper won't lay flat under the fabric and the thread is not in a straight line. Look at this mess. Isn't it lovely? Not.<br />
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Lastly, some thread is visible if looking closely between some piping and the front fabric. In the future I would not sew quite as close when creating the piping. This would allow room for the final round of sewing and no previous stiches would peak through.<br />
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I learned a lot from creating this pillow cover. Piping is not very forgiving so take your time and be precise about placement. Go slowly when attaching zippers, it's not a race. And don't use expensive fabric when trying out new techniques. <br />
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With a little fluffing and arranging this pillow cover still looks pretty good all things considered. Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4794915504534537861.post-84805150910516239822013-10-18T12:34:00.000-07:002013-10-18T12:36:02.065-07:00Dropcloth Seat CoversIt all started with this fabric. I just had to have it after seeing it in a direct mailer from Walter E Smithe, a local furniture chain. I loved the curved lines, soft blue and thin navy outline.<br />
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I spent an embarrassing amount of time hunting the fabric down in the wee hours of the morning and finally found it <a href="http://www.joann.com/upholstery-fabric-smc-designs-depaul-cascade/11276870.html">here</a>. With a 50% coupon it still cost $30/ yard so after ordering 3 yards plus shipping & tax I was out just over $100 to recover 6 dining chairs purchased from Craigslist. This was a lot for me to spend on fabric per yard but it was only 3 yards and I had enough fabric left over to make 2 pillow covers.<br />
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Well it didn't take long for me to realize the new seats needed some protection from my 3 young children. At 6, 4, and 2 they have their fair share of spills and messes during mealtime. Slipcovers seemed the only reasonable option so I attempted to whip up a little something regardless of my lack of sewing machine skills.<br />
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I chose a <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sibiu-5-3-4-ft-x-8-3-4-ft-Canvas-Drop-Cloth-69CV8/202029402">fabric drop cloth from Home Depot </a>because of it's low price and durability. To soften the color I soaked the entire dropcloth in a 1 part bleach 3 parts water solution for a few hours. After washing in the washing machine and drying on high heat I was ready to attempt a slipcover. I decided on a very basic cover with a short hemmed skirt on the sides. I used a prehemmed side of the dropcloth for the skirt to save time. <br />
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Some of the excess fabric was trimmed to make handling the fabric easier at the sewing machine. I then used my daughter's orange marker to mark the sew line to help guide when sewing it together.<br />
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The next hour was spent wrestling with my machine and the fabric. The corners were hard! I wasn't able to create nice little matching pleats but no longer was worried about that and just wanted to finish these things. They are meant for kids and what do they know about slipcovers? I mean, anything had to be a vast improvement over the white bath towels that were constantly draped over the seats right?<br />
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I added a back panel after piecing the main parts together. The cover stayed put with no slipping so I skipped ties or tabs. Two of them have been completed, one from start to finish each day. <br />
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They have been washed and dried a few times so far and seem to be holding up. Obviously they have a "homemade" quality to them but I really like the way they look with the color and texture - and I feel a sense of accomplishment for tackling a new sewing project. Now only four more to go!Steffes in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01678118520459756603noreply@blogger.com0