Inspiration for Secretary Desk

While recovering from a bout with food poisoning I found a couple of secretary desk ideas I wanted to share with you.

This first makeover was featured in "Do It Yourself" magazine and transformed a small bookshelf into a mini-secretatry. Wouldn't this make a great addition to almost any small space?  I love that they added a door to the bottom .

BEFORE

The next secretary idea I found is from MarthaStewart.com and is efficiently organized to use every inch of space. I have a smaller desk that I'm hoping to incorporate some of these ideas to. 

DIY $4 Hanging Pot Rack

 BEFORE

Since I have very limited cabinet space in my small galley kitchen, I decided to hang my new stainless steel cookware above my stove for space-saving, quick access. The only problem is that the space is only 28" long and 18" tall which is way too small for a traditional pot rack. So, I went online searching for possible solutions and found the one pictured below by AK Adams Co. This one looked like a very workable solution for my space at only 20 inches long, but it carried a hefty $50 price tag.

Needless to say $50 was way out of my price range, so I set out to come up with a similar, cheaper, DIY version.

I began by cutting a 1" by 1" wooden strip to the length of my cabinet, which I then painted white to blend in with the overhead cabinets, and screwed it into the bottom of the cabinet on both ends. Next, I screwed 5 nickle cup hooks that I had purchased into the 1" by 1" board. Each hook holds up to 20 lbs.

So I created my own "centsibly chic" hanging pot rack for only $4 (the cost of the hooks), and I am so pleased with it! Not only do I now have additional storage space, but all my shiny sleek pots are within easy reach. Who knows, maybe I will be inspired to cook more since I won't have to dig through my cabinets for pots anymore. Now I just need to find a way to get the lids organized. Hmmm.... Anyone got any suggestions?

Kitchen Canisters Makeover

                                                         BEFORE

I had been searching for a set of white canisters for my kitchen, and found a set of two, like the green one pictured above, at a local yard sale for only $1. I knew that with a little paint, I could transform them from their current Appalachian Christmas motif into some fabulously shabby chic kitchen decor.

I'm glad I decided to go ahead and snatch them up, because a a couple of weeks later, I found the exact same two canisters at Goodwill with an asking price of $6 for the set, which I certainly wouldn't have paid.

I have painted ceramics before using spray primer and paint, but I have heard a lot about Krylon Fusion spray paint, so I decided to try it for this project. Although it stated that this product could be used on glass and ceramics, I wasn't very happy with the results. The paint ran very easily and it took an entire can just to paint the two canisters (and it could still use another coat).  I had to sand the runs out. It was a very labor intensive project and it didn't need to be. I don't think I will be using the Fusion spray paint again.

I am happy with the overall look of the canisters and don't you think they look one-hundred times better white? I sure do!

I'd also love to hear about anyone else's experiences using Krylon Fusion spray paint?

$1.25 Breadbox Make-over

BEFORE

I found this breadbox at a yard sale a while back for only a $1, I knew it had potential.
{ In the background is the remains of my storage building after a tree fell on it.}





First, I removed the wooden pull from the front lid, then I primed both it and the breadbox. Next, I painted some areas with green craft paint and then rubbed candle wax over them so they would show through after distressing. I then painted the exterior with Behr "Country White" satin paint. Once the top coat was dry, I then sanded over the areas that I had painted green, as well as the edges, to give a nice distressed finish.

I had also picked up some wood appliques at another yard sale for $.25 each.  I loved the diamond shaped one, and thought it would add just the right amount of shabby, so I painted both it and the pull, then glued the pull onto the center of the applique. I then lightly sanded them to give them the same distressed finish.

I think that was just the extra touch it needed to give it that punch of character. What do you think?

See more great trash to treasure makeovers at Kammy's Korner every Tuesday!

Curbside Rescue Makeover

Can you believe someone set this little table out for trash pickup?  They just didn't see it's potential.  I admit it looked pretty rough when I rescued it, but all it needed was some TLC and a litttle paint.

I'm really excited about this find because older pieces typically are better constructed and have more intricate detailing than newer furniture.  I love the way the ASCP creates an authentic aged look on older furniture, and it sounds amazing to work with. However it doesn't fit into my budget so I needed to sand and prime before painting.

I spray painted the legs with Rust-oleum's Heirloom White and then rolled Behr's Country White satin on the flat surfaces. To better protect the finish I applied 2 coats of  clear paste wax.

What a difference a little paint can make, wonder if its previous owner would want to "kick it to the curb" now?

Roadside Finds

As I was driving through my neighborhood, I came across these wonderful finds that a neighbor had set out for trash pick-up in my neighborhood. I couldn't believe my luck that someone else wanted to throw these items away. Couldn't they see their hidden potential?

The first item is a wooden child's chair. I'm thinking that I might paint it and cut a hole in the seat and use it as a planter. What would you use it for?

The second item, an antique water fall chest, didn't appear to be in the greatest condition. The drawers wouldn't shut, the sides of the drawers were displaced and lying in the bottom drawer, and the back panel was lying on top of the chest.

While I was trying to decide if I could save the chest or not, my neighbor came out to tell me that I was more than welcome to either piece if I would just haul them off. I told her I could do wonders for the aesthetic of the piece with some paint and a little elbow grease, but that I wasn't as confident about my carpentry skills. In a unique twist, she then proceeded to volunteer her husband to repair it for me, and then deliver it to my house. She followed up by saying that she wanted to see it when I finished with it. I was a little dumb-founded why she hadn't just had her husband fix it to begin with. But, regardless of her reasons, I am grateful.

I think this chest will be my biggest challenge yet. It still needs a lot of TLC but I am willing to give it a shot and see if I can transform it. It will have to wait awhile though, I have several  other  projects I need to to get finished first.

Yard Sale Finds

I have been plagued with woes over the last few months. Besides my usual back pain and sciatica issues, I also suffered a broken toe, all of which severely limited my thrifting and other activities. However, last Saturday I just couldn't stand it so I ventured out to a community yard sale near by. Don't you just love those? So many wonderful bargains in a centralized location!

I am so glad I went as I found lots of great things. My total cash spent for the day was around $25 and I came home with a car load full of treasures!  Check out all of the fab finds I got for only $1 or less each!

I found these fabulous matching Peir 1 metal picture frames.

I couldn't resist this small white metal rack. It will make a perfect rack to hang some of my favorite necklaces on.

I also grabbed up 6 of these wooden shelf brackets. Now I can put those shelves up in the guest room. They just need a coat of paint and a little shabby chic love.

I also snatched up 6 hardback books, including 3 decorating books. And yes that is a cookbook on top.

I love this neutral colored textured candle holder.

I also found 2 folding chairs. They look a little worse for wear, but they are sturdy and will look great after I give them a little well-needed TLC. They were $2 each.

I also found a solitary white canister for $.50. I wish there had a been more.

For $.25, 2 colored bottles to go on my kitchen shelf.

Aren't these things awesome!! I think I'll do another post with the rest of my fabulous yard sale finds, so stay tuned.

How to Hide Your Washer and Dryer Shabby Chic Style

                              INSPIRATION from Country Living Magazine

                                                BEFORE                               

                                                          AFTER

My small house doesn't have a laundry room or a basement so my old, outdated, mismatched but functional washer and dryer are located in my kitchen.  Not very attractive but necessary and convenient nevertheless.  My favorite quote "Do what you can with what you have, where you are ." by Theodore Roosevelt  certainly applies here.

After my kitchen shelf makeover, I decided to tackle another eyesore in my kitchen, my washer and dryer. I have wanted to fix this problem for some time. I decided the only feasible solution to hide them was fabric. I even bought material a couple of times, but wasn't really in love with the patterns once I got them home.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, then starting on the first one." Mark Twain

Then I read the above quote in a post my daughter Regina wrote on her blog and had my aha moment. I decided that I would commit to working on this project at least 15 minutes a day until it was complete. Of course, once I got started I didn't want to stop.

The first thing I decided to do was to go through my ever-increasing stash of fabrics. Amazingly, I found a neutral colored patterned sheet that I had forgotten about. It  had an old, faded look, perfect for a shabby chic kitchen.

Next, I measured the washer and dryer to get the dimensions. For a fuller panel, I also decided to triple the measurement. Doubling the width is usually enough, however, I wanted more volume.

Since my dryer opens in the front, I also decided to cut three individual panels (one for the visible side, one to cover the front of the dryer, and one to cover the front of the washer). I figured this would allow for easier dryer access.

Next, I hemmed all edges of the 3 panels and sewed shirring tape to the top of each panel on the back side, then pulled the strings to the desired width.

Click here for another example with detailed instructions.The example is for a sink skirt, but it follows the same basic steps.

Image from Ballardstylestudio.com

After getting the panels to the desired width, I then attached self stick Velcro strips to the washer and dryer and to the gathered panels over the shirring tape. Be aware that increased fullness may cause the Velcro not to stick on some fabrics and it may have to be glued.

 

   

Project Completed

Mission accomplished ! ! ! !  Such a great feeling to complete a long awaited project. I hope this inspires you to tackle something you have been procrastinating about starting.

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