Laundry/Powder Room Progress

Betcha thought you’d never see a post on this again.  I was beginning to think that myself.  It’s been terribly busy and with some good weather and good friends, I’ve found myself socializing slightly more than I deserve to lately. 

In any case, this is the progress so far.

A recap of how my gorgeous Laundry/Powder room looked before can be found here (I can’t bear to post those pictures again).

Basically the laundry area is the bulk of the work.  The laundry room was behind two large bi-fold doors completely hidden from the rest of the washroom, and thank Heavens it was.

Unfortunately my washer and dryer each died on different occasions. The dryer was replaced first to match the washer which in turn died some months later, soooo I ended up with mismatched machines.  Not that it matters, they both do the trick.

Everything you see in this picture below had to be removed.  The washer/dryer were pulled out and set side by side, which is the way they’ll stay.  The bulkhead that separated the two parts of this room was removed.

Secretary Desk for a Writer

A client of mine contacted me recently with a request to do another desk for her.  I had previously done the Viridian Green Desk for Kari and now she wanted something for a  small nook her home to write her new children’s book.  Kari and her sister have one children’s book already published and she’ll be using this desk to pen a new one.  Take a moment to check out their book Margaret and the Moth Tree, you can find it at most bookstores as well as Amazon.

Kari located the desk herself and asked me to repaint it for her.  As cute as this desk is, it was in terrible condition.  I don’t believe I’ve ever come across a piece with so many coats of paint on it…(well maybe I have).  So many, in fact, that the paint was literally flaking off in chunks.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.