Consistency...It's Not For Me

Wow... I don't even want to know the last date I was on Blogger!  I've just finished up spring semester of grad school year 1.  I have a week off then back to class for May/June session.  I'll be gone this summer to work at Double H Ranch, so plan for more inconsistency.

So Greer and I have worked on a handful of projects since I was last on.  I'm not sure if I posted the near-finished antique record cabinet (still needs hardware), so I'll just go ahead and show you a picture of its current state.

Did you spot two other new things?
- We finally got around to hanging one of our wedding gifts- a photo taken by one of Greer's good friends.  The friend didn't know the colors of our living room, but it matches perfectly!  Greer built the frame from scrap molding, spray painted it brown, then sanded to give it a rougher look.  So nice to have something on that wall!!

- My dad picked up an old record cabinet at a thrift store, which Greer repainted and is now using as our tv stand/record storage.  I'm glad he has a place to keep his favorites in our living room (other than the floor...).

I think it could use some new hardware but, you know, that's lower priority right now.  Here's an open-door view.

The suitcase table is now then end table, and the end table is upstairs.  Here's the suitcase table in it's new home:

My in-laws are moving and downsizing all they own, so Greer and I got lucky and inherited their antique buffet.

I'm super excited about that guy.  I kind of want to paint it but I'm leaving it alone for now.  Excuse the animal bowls.. I got lazy about moving things to take pictures.

The little roll-top desk that was in that corner is hanging out on another wall for now...

I can't remember if I posted the semi-finished bookcase I was working on, so I'll show that (again?) too.  This was a old Hoosier cabinet top my dad pulled out of the dump.  It needed loads of love- like replacing some of the plywood frame.  Here it is in our upstairs hallway landing, looking so much better!

Remember what that used to look like when it came out of the dump? No? Oh.. here:

It only had a few of the doors, so I'm playing with how I want to use those.  I'm also messing around with some ideas for the tall cabinet on the left.  I might hang some hooks in there for scarves on top.  Only time will tell.  I also still have no home for the little shelf sitting on the floor.  Oh, I should probably return that red clamp to my dad.

My goal for this little week break is to choose a color for the front door and finally PAINT IT.  It's, what, a year later?  Something like that...

Well, that's a little update about our life in this clearing in the woods.  I'll try to post a little more this month, but not guarantees!


Participating in Link Parties at:
http://tatertotsandjello.com - Tatertots and Jello

Antique Record Cabinet: Repainted

The antique record cabinet is almost done!  Let's take a look at the before so you can truly appreciate this upgrade for us:

Greer painted it to match the one kitchen wall, which nicely accents the orange living room.  All that is left is to pick out and attach the hardware. We've found a nice pair for the bottom doors that we are waiting to attach.  We'd like to have both top and bottom sets picked out before we start screwing anything in, so that we know they will look good together.

So much better!


Greer was able to fit the receiver and his record player safely in the top part of the cabinet.


The bottom shelves house his favorite, most frequently enjoyed records, our current Netflix rentals, and my Zumba instructor DVDs.

The log table that used to house all of the living room entertainment systems is now in my studio/guestroom.
I actually like it in the guestroom more than I thought I would.  I'd be happy to leave it there for awhile.  I really like that it brings my niece's dollhouse off the floor!

Daisy Girl Finds a Home

You may have read about a poor, homeless, giant painting of Daisy Girl (as we affectionately call her).  Greer picked her up at a thrift store with me in mind.  Daisies are a recurrent theme in my family as they were my grandmother's favorite flower and they were the flowers for my wedding. 

I thought the whole painting and frame were too dark to hang; I wanted something lighter.  Greer didn't want to paint the frame because a) he didn't know if it was antique and b) it would be a pain to get the painting out.

Finally, after sitting in various rooms in the house, we agreed on painting the frame. 

What a difference a light frame makes!

Participating in:

Weekend Wrap-up Party @ Tatertots and Jello

Studio + Guest Room: Sleeper Sofa!

Oh the pains of trying to design on a next-to-nothing budget.  I created the Studio + Guest Room Mood Board, which is all well and good, but how do I make this happen?  Painting the room cost so much that I have to be a little creative with putting the rest of it together.

About the same time I decided to do red and blue accents, my co-worker had a pre-sale yard sale for our office.  Not only did I find two adorable red flower candy dishes with saucers from Pier 1 ($6), but I also snagged a cobalt blue glass serving bowl ($1), colorful cloth place mats with matching napkins ($4), and un-opened Shakespeare in Love ($3).  But the best purchase of all was the full-sized sleeper sofa she sold to me for $25 in good condition.  She also threw in the red Pottery Barn pillow and throw blanket.

Incredible.

(Click "Continue Reading")

Thrifty Find: Headboard

While shopping for wedding tuxes, Greer and I stumbled upon the most adorable headboard I have seen.  (We made a side stop at a thrift store...)  I fell completely in love with it, but we knew it wouldn't fit in the car.  My darling fiance called the store later in the week and purchased the headboard over the phone (only $37!!)  My sister and I drove back up to the same area for a wedding hair trial (diseaster...) and picked up the headboard (thanks for letting us borrow your car, Mom!).

So now, I have a beautiful only slightly broken (and easily fixed) headboard for our future daughter.  Who won't be around for at least 3 years.  And may turn out to be a boy.  Will he like a pink and yellow flowered headboard?  .....only time will tell.