Padded Headboard

In an effort to spruce up a basement apartment bedroom, we constructed our own version of a padded headboard.

This room has no windows.  The cheery pale yellow on the walls and warm flooring helps cozy up the room, but the plain wall behind the bed needed help. 

Here’s an abbreviated version of what we did.

Start a with 5/8 sheet of finished plywood cut to fit a double size bed.  Select some trim for the edges. This makes up the main part of the headboard.

We cut another piece of finished plywood in this design to mount on top of the main square piece.

Coming Up ..

Believe it or not, I actually HAVE been busy. 

The problem is, that at the moment I have so many projects started, but not completed….except for this project.

Come on back this weekend to find out.

A Home away from Home

I’d like to introduce you to the main reason I haven’t posted much lately. Recently we purchased a house in Florida.  This is a project far from my home but close to my heart.   A couple of trips and  some hard work and we have something I’ve managed to become very attached to. There was a lot going in a very few short days, but I only managed to pick up the camera a few times to take these shots.

From the outside this was the way we found it…

Recaptured Charm in Italy

I know I’ve been slightly absent so far this year but I’ve been involved with so many different things, time just seems to be rushing by me.

I want to take a minute and tell you about one of those things… Recaptured Charm in Italy ?

Yessiree! 

Truly one of the more beautiful home magazines I have seen has done a little article about Recaptured Charm and the Stenciled Dresser…..in Italian of course.  I’m overjoyed to see it in print and in such a beautiful magazine.

Ristrutturare con Casa Chic

CONTINUED... (click link below)

Diary of a Laundry/Powder Room–The Beginning

I’ve been in my current house for over 4 years now.  Mr. Charming and I have managed to rework much of the house but 3 bathrooms have remained untouched.

My laundry machines reside in my main floor powder room.  Convenient ?  Yes  Attractive ?  No.

I admit there are times when I am ashamed to say ‘this is my before picture’, and this is one of them.   Granted, the  bi-fold doors that concealed the laundry area have been taken down for this picture… but it is an unsightly bathroom nonetheless. Thankfully, I have a second floor family room and guests can use the ‘less unattractive’ bathroom up there.

Ok, so here it is <big breath>  in all it’s previous glory.

Wallpapered Armoire

Well welcome back to me !

I’ve taken an extra long holiday this year.  I took time off at Christmas to thoroughly enjoy the season and lots of family time.  BUT… I have been working on something the past couple of weeks.  So to make up for my absence, how about an extra long post?

After repurposing  the previous armoire( seen here  in milk paint)  I came across another almost the same.  This armoire though, was larger and much deeper than the last.   Because I thought this piece would be too large for most kitchens or dining rooms to repurpose it like the last, it was decided to leave it as an armoire.

But I just don’t like mirrored door armoires.

Our before picture shows the Armoire  with one door already off.  I have to say this was in very good condition.  The inside was immaculate. The outside, although also in great condition was very shiny.  We all know how I feel about shiny.

In any case… off came the mirrored doors.

Coffee Filter Christmas Wreath

This simple wreath didn’t start out so simple.  

I wanted the filters to be green.  I used different paints but I didn’t like the way they looked.  I tried dying them with food color but I didn’t like that either. Several attempts later, I gave up and the filters stayed white.

The materials required couldn’t be easier to get.

A Styrofoam wreath form, about 200 coffee filters, hot glue and decorations of your choice.

Fold the basket shaped filter in half

Holiday Yarn Trees

A while back I was contacted by the good people at Lion Brand Yarns. 

After seeing  my Yarn Wreath, they were wonderful enough to send me a box of yarns to play around with this Christmas. 

The yarns are absolutely beautiful and even though I craft with them … it almost makes me want to pick up knitting needles again.

I have several projects I want to complete with these (time permitting), but this time I’m doing yarn trees.

I used 3 different sized Styrofoam cones and some white craft glue.

Apply some glue to your tree and spiral the yarn of your choice into different size spirals, then apply them to the glue.

Reconstructing Roadkill

Mr. Charming brought this piece home for me.   He rescued it from the curb side.   Yes.. someone was throwing this away…tsk tsk.

This piece is all real wood.   I believe the previous owner was using it as a chest.  He nailed the doors shut and made the top removable.

Craft Box Lamp

Why do I always stop and look at these wooden craft boxes from the dollar store?  I dunno.  Maybe because one day I knew I’d do something with them?  This time I brought 3 home with me.

Little Orphan Stool & Giveaway Winner

When I was walking through my local thrift store I spotted this stool/plant stand towards the end of the isle.  Without missing a step, I scooped it up as I walked by.  No further inspection needed. 

It was slightly wobbly, nothing that couldn’t be fixed and quite scuffed up on top, but I didn’t care.

I put this can of paint beside it to show you just how small it is.  Love the legs!

So what’s a few nails sticking out of the top, scratches, gouges and hammer dents? Nope, didn’t bother me. No-siree.

CONTINUED... (click link below)

Fall Leaves and Apple Pie

Now I know this isn’t a cooking site, but I am a HUUUGE fan of Fall and  I’m into all kinds of things right now.  What else says FALL more than beautiful leaves and apple pie?  Autumn Apple Pie.

CONTINUED... (click link below)

Corduroy Cane Chairs

I was lucky enough to come across these chairs at my local Goodwill.  Aren’t they gorgeous? 

The cane was in great shape.  The frames are strong and sturdy, but they were on rollers for some reason.

1000 Followers Giveaway !

It’s hard to believe that so many amazing people have accepted my blog into their lives.  I’m truly honoured to have reached so many people.   I am thoroughly enjoying my time in Blogland.

To show gratitude and love for my readers I’ve got a few goodies up for grabs:

1 lb bag of Milk Paint

1 Bottle of Milk Paint Bond

2 Purdy Paint Brushes

If you’ve been reading the last few posts here you’ll see Milk Paint in full swing.  I love using it so much, I want YOU to try it!

The wonderful people at Homestead House Paint Company have graciously agreed to donate their product for the giveaway… so a great big ‘Thank You’ to Homestead House.

A 1 lb bag of paint will mix to 2 quarts of paint and will cover about 150 sq. feet. That should last through a few projects! The Milk Paint Bond will allow the milk paint to adhere to any previously finished piece and because you can never have too many paint brushes, I’m throwing in a couple of those too.

The paint comes in the most fabulous colors.  There’s sure to be something you’ll fall in love with.  I used Acadia Pear for my Armoire Makeover, seen HERE and Steel Blue for the Beachy Entry Tables seen HERE.

If you haven’t tried Milk Paint here is your chance.

There are lots of ways to enter..  You can do one or all of the entries below.

The more you do, you more chances you have.

ONE Entry for Each of these below..

Visit Homestead House Paint Co.,  pick your color and leave a comment with the name of the color you’d like.

• Like this post on Facebook, leave a comment telling me you did for one entry
• Tweet this giveaway and leave a comment for another entry
• Like Homestead on Facebook, leave another comment for one more entry
• Please make sure you are a follower of Recaptured Charm

Pick one or do them all for more chances.  It’s that easy !

Thanks to all of you who drop by each week to see what’s new.

Good luck to all … and a THOUSAND Thank You’s !

Giveaway Deadline:  September 30, 2011

*** Please remember to leave your email address***

DIY Dollar Store Illuminated Pumpkin

Gotta love a project that comes entirely from the Dollar Store.

This DIY illuminated pumpkin  is just that.

Here is how to do it...