Catching Up & Spring Home Updates

Once again, the (new) year seems to be flying by! It feels like just yesterday I peeked out the windows to see winter grey, and today, the view is filled with blue skies, green buds, birds, bees, butterflies, and flowers! I truly love this time of year, and especially now living in a place where you can really see, feel, and appreciate the change of seasons. And with the change of seasons, comes a few in home changes over the past three months, including:
  

January - Winter Paint Projects (objects)

- Mirror Makeovers
- Trunk Revamp to Stripes
- Ebonized Dining Table
- Chandelier Update
- Emerald Buffet Makeover

 

 

I'd like to add ribbon trim to the shade, but in the meantime, the white candlesticks are painted antique gold.

February - Spring Cleaning Began

- Window Cleaning

- Window panel updates (DR, MBR, LR)

 - Wall Decor updates - Created an Abstract Painting

- Changed air filters

 - Kitchen & Bathrooms deep cleaning

- Closet purge = donations + consignment

- Closet organizing

 - Home Office purge & cleaning

 

 

March - Pre-Spring Projects

- Outdoor wicker cleaned & painted

 - Phase 1 outdoor living spaces - after winter clean-up

- Front Door Re-Painted (black gloss)

- Interior black door & white moldings (+fireplace) repainted 
 - Finished basement primed & painted

- Layering of Spring florals + greens (both faux and real)

- Guest Den Refresh - New daybed refinished

- Sheets & Towels renewed

- Brass & Silver polished

- Created New Spring Tablescapes

 

The satin black door was already fading - refreshed with two coats of (Glidden)  high gloss. 

The key to a crisp edge paint job is an angled brush.

The finished basement & bathroom were blah-builder-beige (since 2005!!) Easily  updated with Behr Gentle Rain - same color we used in our Master Bed / Bath and Guest bathrooms - keeps house cohesive, updated neutral, and still light enough for a basically windowless space. 

 

The metal Daybed I ordered was Oil Rubbed Brown - it wasn't available in black (but I really liked its style being vintage-like) - I built some sections, painted them, and I finished building bed inside, in the upstairs guest space. 

HomeGoods gift cards came in handy to replenish guest towels, along with create a welcoming Spa Tray in the Guest Room.

The daybed is actually a trundle bed, but rather than build the low trundle, the space came in handy for guest luggage storage. The arm-less sofa bed is being consigned.

 

Fresh flowers last so much longer here in NC than they did in AZ - and houseplants have been a great means of fresh greens all year long...

 

 

Good 'ol toothpaste works like a charm to polish silver I've collected over time (mostly from thrifting!)

 

 I'll post a few other tablescapes next - this was just a quick Spring - Easter brunch alfresco set outside on the deck - The table I refinished last year.The black wicker chairs I thrifted in AZ.

Hope you enjoyed a happy Easter weekend!

Along with these projects, all done within a small budget - reusing & refinishing existing items paired with a few new additions, we've also had guests over for a get-together in February, my family visited (just last week), taking in Spring around town, Jeff's family too will be coming this Summer - and we're going to have neighbors over for grilling season - plus also get the neighborhood together to have a Summer block party. Although I don't go out thrifting as much here as I did when I lived in Florida or Arizona, I've still managed to keep turning Harmon House into a home with a few shifts plus reselling items no longer in use via two local consignment shops.

 

My mom & aunt visiting for the week.

Chef Jeff preparing our good Friday fish meal...

Since I've taken a little break from blogging, most of my sharing has been with project updates via Facebook, Instagram, and Flickr (just quicker to still keep in touch). I need to share more details about some of the makeovers & paint projects here on the blog - but I really just needed a break from blogging. Of all the social media channels I share on (FB, TW, IG, G+, Houzz, Flickr, Pinterest), blogging by far takes the most time, has changed so much since Pinterest, and I was seeing the least return for the time invested. After spending so much time online, I started to get, RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury (hand, forearm, neck), and weight gain from not moving around as much as I used to. After being 115lbs. for most of my life, I shot up to 144lbs. Thankfully, now I've dropped down to 133, but being only 5'2", for me - that's still too high - not to mention, my blood pressure was some ridiculous sky-high numbers). I'm sure moving (to AZ and now to NC) has also placed on strain on motivation (major life change), but after now living back east for a little over a year, I'm starting to feel more settled &  grounded again.

Sitting IS the new smoking - GET UP and move around.

With Spring in full swing and April just around the corner, I'm so looking forward to getting back to being and living outdoors - especially gardening (hubs is too!) and taking walks after dinner. There are also several flea, antique and the furniture markets coming up to get out and explore - plus I made a list of local parks to experience on the weekends. Regardless of my back not being quite the same as it used to be, and as fun as blogging was when I started (back in late '09) - I can't stand sitting still anymore.

 

Old Winston in Spring Bloom!

Jeff's Raised Box - Vegetable Garden

I'm so ready to get back outdoors!! How about you?

Happy Spring!

Thanks for stopping by!

INDOOR WINTER PAINT PROJECTS

With the colder winter days now in full swing, including our first snowfall of the season Sunday morning -- it's time to focus on indoor projects. Before diving into several projects running through your mind, it's good to start a project list, especially room by room, and tackle each space / project over time. Along with giving the kitchen & bathrooms a deep after holiday cleaning, plus reorganizing closets that became disarray during the holidays, I started some small painting projects - one of which is a simple mirror makeover...

Since paint is the easiest, least expensive and most effective means of getting the biggest bang for your buck, reusing leftover paint you may already have is a sure way to create a transformation using zero dollars. Another means of stretching your paint makeover dollars is purchasing sample jars of paints - especially when they are on sale. One of the colors I had when I lived in AZ and used to whitewash walls and makeover accessories was Clark & Kensington's Vanilla. Since I couldn't pack and ship liquids when we moved, I've been slowly building back up go-to my paint assortment - again including C&K's vanilla, here I used to transform the look of a basic round mirror I have in the dining room...

Here is what I used:

• Wide frame round mirror (clearance find at Garden Ridge 2013)
• 1 drop cloth (folded on table for extra protection)
• 1 Chip brush
• 1 small sponge stick
• 1 small detail painters brush
• Clark & Kensington Vanilla (sample jar from Ace)
• Ralph Lauren antique gold (had from last year - qt. from Home Depot)
• Ebony stain (picked up a qt. for $2 last year at a local builder supply store)

Here's what I did:

• Covered the well-lit kitchen dining table with the drop cloth.
• Wiped down the mirror with a damp cloth (to remove dust).
• No tape needed - I just gave two coats of vanilla to the center wide band.
• Sponge wiped the edge + inner rim with the RL gold paint.
• Detailed inner rim with the ebony stain, which allowed some of the existing burnished gold to still come through.

That's it!

 

old basic round mirror

 

rough brushed wide rim with vanilla

 after 2 coats of vanilla, painted edge + inner rim with sponge in gold...

Yes - I love my black, but for Spring & Summer, I love to lighten up!

Besides renewing the mirror with white & gold, I'm also refreshing the dining room with a major dose of green, white and gold. If you've followed me over the years, you know I also love are shades of green  and my beloved palm fronds - which even though we're back east, have been hard to come by - especially during the winter months. What to do when you you want to surround yourself with a atmosphere you love? Create it yourself...

Here's a sneak peek of another paint project I'm working on inside, to not only refresh the dining room, but also update a console I scored from thrift & refinished back in FL in 2006... again re-using existing pieces collected over time, injecting color with paint sample jars, and layering in a new palm print pattern with existing textiles...

 

Color inspiration from Carolina thrift finds - vintage creamer, gravy boat & books...

 

Sample jars - on sale for $5 at Sherwin Williams - perfect for small projects such as painted furniture makeovers...

Collected inspiration from a design book (surprise! NOT Pinterest!), framed photograph wall art (I created back in FL in 2008), fabric samples old (lattice) and new (palm print - banana leaf) 

Since the room foundation is already neutral (grey walls called Porpoise from Behr paint) with white trim & dark wood floors, it makes creating seasonal changes super easy - and without the cost of a major renovation. Ideally, I'd like to cover the top portion of the walls in grass-cloth and add moldings below the dado (chair rail), but those changes can't quite fit in the budget at this time - and that's just fine.

Here are a few projects from the past where I've also used palms, greens and whites...

 DECORATING WITH FAUX & FRESH PALM FRONDS

DIY WHITE WASHED WALLS 

 GATHERING UP THE GREENS FOR A RESTYLE

 DIY - A FRAMED FABRIC FOCAL POINT

A TALE OF oops! PAINT

What projects are you up to this winter?

Thanks for stopping by!

10 Things To Do In September

 Before the month is over, and you end up at the end of it saying, "Now why didn't we do that?" or "I wish we would have..." here is a list of ten thought starters to kick off September and the fall season with...

Get your closet ready for that first crisp fall day - Use a simple garment rack (easy to find at HomeGoods!) to fluff and air out furs & coats.

Check boots for needed repairs - Update your wardrobe with a new bag for Fall.

1. Wardrobe Refresh - Layer the latest trends into your key essentials with a few consignment updates or thrift finds. Try a new nail color, lip color - or if you're really brave: try a new hair cut & color. Check boots and bags for needed repairs - or donate altogether. Try on jeans, sweaters and coats - replace as needed. Wash all fall scarves - but send wool ones, along with winter coats, to the dry cleaner to refresh.

Just moved? Clear garage clutter - purge, donate, and use totes for storage. If you have time & funds available - paint the garage & seal the floor.

2. Control clutter - Rather than try to find storage space for everything you own, rethink: if you didn't wear it or use it this season, seriously consider donating clothing or decor items to a church thrift store or a homeless shelter. Extra towels, sheets or blankets can be taken to an animal shelter. Include clearing out the garage, to make a warmer space for your vehicle this winter vs. digging out of the snow. After clearing clutter, consider taking some like new items to a consignment shop to sell - or have a fall garage sale.  

Soak & clean brushes to remove summer bronzers.

3. Check expiration dates - from the fridge, to the spice cabinet, to the pantry, to the medicine cabinet - and even cosmetics. Purge those summer pickles, last year flour to cold medicine, and stock up on cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, soup, tea and NyQuil. And while you're at it: clean hair & makeup brushes - good to soak in warm water & baking soda + air dry. 



 
A simple shift to shopping thrift can create a space that's light and bright transform to

dark and moody.

 4. Seasonal Decor - stash the fresh greens for harvest gold, shift from lighter weight cotton & linen to heavier weight velvets & knits and layer layer layer -- from throws to lighting. Replace summer baskets of shells for bushels of corks or pinecones, bowls of yellow lemons for red apples, and bunches of hydrangeas for branches.

 

Update builder basic white doors, or renew faded front doors - view more on my previous post at: Painting Interior Doors Black

5. Plan Paint Projects - Painting season is here: temps are ideal for outdoor painting (furniture renewal) as well as interior paint projects too. Want to dive into furniture renewal? Hunting can be just as fun: shop local and salvage discarded furniture finds at thrift and consignment shops. Now is also a good time to paint your doors & trim -- or turn that storage room into a guest room!

View 10 Striking Fall Colorful Plants to Grow In Your Landscape featured at homegardengreen.com.

6. Renew Gardens for Fall - It's time to pull dried foliage, spent flowers and trim trees. Start to downsize plant containers to store for winter. Refresh your curb appeal by giving the front door & trim a fresh coat of paint and flank the entry with a pair of mum filled urns or containers. Remove those cucumber vines, peppers and summer herbs plus cut back tomato plants to make space for hardy vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and lettuce. You can even plant bulbs now, such as iris, for next Spring, Aerate your lawn and seed now - watering once a day, 30-60 mins. for 2-3 weeks for a lush green lawn next Spring.

Bake an American Classic: Apple Pie, featured at SheKnows.

7. Get set to bake - You know all those recipes you pinned last Fall and Christmas season? Gather them up, print out 5 to try, check for ingredients, and plan time this upcoming season to bake them - Send breads as gifts, make pies for desserts, and bake cookies to give to neighbors. 

Have your HVAC system checked - you never know what hazards my be hidden.

8. Seasonal Home improvements - Plan ahead now before the drafts kick in: replace weather stripping at doors, replace damaged screens (before opening those windows for the brisk breeze!), change air filters, add insulation padding behind electrical switches, and speaking of insulation: if you have a room on your house that gets too hot or too cold, it's possible you may be in need of extra insulation in your attic. September is also a good time to plan getting carpets cleaned, before holiday guests arrive later.

View my 10 Fall Tailgating Ideas post at Hadley Court design blog.
(Go Gators!)

9. Plan outdoor entertainment time - From attending tailgate parties & picnics to your kids soccer game to flea markets, carnivals, and jazz festivals -- Disconnect: get off line - get outdoors and live... because if we have another winter this year as we did last year, you'll regret not taking this opportunity to get out in the fall - before you hunker down for winter.

 If you're in the desert, head up to the Red Rocks of Sedona - If you're on the east coast, plan a road-trip up the Hudson Valley.

 10. Travel - Plan to take a road trip - Explore your own state, take in the fall foliage splendor up the coast, go wine tasting in the country, -- and if you live in the country: take a trip to the City -- New York City! Besides the many photos you'll take, pop by a bookstore to buy a book (about your destination) as a keepsake, and pick up a fall leaf to press in it - for a personalized souvenir of your trip.

I'm so excited for Fall! How about you?

Thanks for stopping by!