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!

SKETCHES & COLOR STORIES ON THE EMMY'S RED CARPET

Did you see the 66th Annual Emmy Awards show yesterday? Three key color stories dominated the red carpet: reds, whites, and black. Quite the contrast to the Oscars earlier this year (read my previous post here) where metallic (champagne, gold & silver), blush and nude ruled the red carpet. There were so many shades of red from lipstick red to coral - with necklines, hemlines and even a midriff or two for the younger crowd. In addition to the fifty shades of red, white dresses and gorgeous black gowns, with various sleeve lengths - from strapless to cap to long sleeve - also made a strong statement on the Emmy's Red Carpet. I'm not going to get too much into the specifics of who wore what, because there will be plenty of those details splashed on the news, internet, and social media today - I was more focused on the color stories, the hard clutch bags, and the minimalism of accessories, make-up, nails, and hair styling....

 

Zac Posen Sketch of Heidi Klum's Emmy Dress, he endearingly called "Coral Angel"...

 

 Modern Family's Sarah Hyland wow'd in a youthful midriff + long full coral skirt ensemble by Christian Sirian...

Absolutely LOVED Louise Roe (left) wearing a Monique Lhuillier watercolor - floral gown, Martin Katz jewelry, Edie Parker clutch, and Monique Lhuillier shoes...

Minimalism in White...

 A Red-Carpet Show Stopper and Dramatically Different:

Robin Wright wore a custom silk jumpsuit, designed by none-other than Ralph Lauren <3 span="">

 

 I had to check out what Paper Fashion was creating for the Emmy's - She actually had teamed up with L'Oréal Paris to illustrate a Red carpet Cosmetics feature...

 

 Gorgeous gowns from Taylor (left) in a decoesque beaded halter gown to Camilla's laser-lace portrait gown... and Hagia Sophia!!

This woman is perfect! So statuesque - She reminded me of the Chrysler Building in this dress...

Sofia Vergara, was wearing Roberto Cavalli - Styled by none-other than Rachel Zoe.

 

Photo Pre-rotating pedestal controversy... and looking so old Hollywood when stars were stars...

 

LOVE the asymmetrical neckline and sleek column style of this Halston Heritage dress on Carrie, featured at Just Jared.

 Two faves here (in the center) are Julianna Margulies wearing Narcisco Rodriguez and Jessica Paré wearing Lanvin. I liked the geometric pattern of Debra Messing's dress, but would have liked a better fit (may have needed a skinny black patent belt).

So elegant - Lizzy Caplan in a Donna Karen Atelier gown... Get's my vote for one of the Best dressed for the evening....

 

The Art of the Red Carpet - Paper Fashion collaboration with L'Oreal Paris.

 Another Red Carpet Show Stopper:

Julia Roberts graced the Red Carpet in Elise Saab beaded short dress - and the girls' got LEGS (for days!!)

 

Besides the abundance of red, white and black on the Red Carpet, Brilliant Blue, Navy and shades of Emerald also made a statement...

 

 Why do we watch these award shows? i think we all need a little time out and some glamour in our lives every now and then... I know living here in the dusty desert, I sure do! Loved seeing all the color stories, gowns, and noticing - at least for formal attire, accessories are going back to making a minimal statement: No necklace, simple earrings, simple bracelet (if any), the hard clutch, and nude (not French, but matching skin-tone) manicure.

Once again, all demonstrating, design is in the details - and back to a less is more concept.

 E! Red Carpet coverage included not only the "ManiCam" this event, but introduced the "ClutchCam" now too...

Did you watch the Emmy's? What did you think of the dresses, and even hair styles gracing the red carpet? (Drastically different from Sunday's VMA's!) The Emmy's were definitely more sophisticated, and I know I can't wait to hear what the Fashion Police has to say about both award show red carpet looks!

 

Paper Fashion - Sketchbook

 Paper Fashion - L'Oreal Paris shoot...

 Kerry Washington looked SCANDALOUS in a bold hue of orange & Prada!

For more info on the VMA's or Emmy Fashion Styles, be sure to visit:

Elle Magazine

Vogue

InStyle

PopSugar

Just Jared

And also stop by my pinboard for more

Red Carpet Style!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

WELCOME JULY WITH 10 PATRIOTIC PAINT PROJECTS!

Welcome July! This month, why not paint something red, white, or blue? Or all three? Who knows - you may even inspire a little neighborly display of patriotism - and it's paint, so you can possibly change it up again after a while! Paint is one of the easiest and least expense ways to change the look of a room, furniture, home decor, a tablescape or even make a ordinary everyday object a little more spectacular. Here are ten red + white + blue paint projects to get you inspired... and inspired for this upcoming July 4th...

 

Go Americana in the dining room, the kids bedrooms, or mudroom with Ralph Lauren Paint in red, white, or blue...

 

Paint a Patriotic Flag from a Pallet...

(originally created by Michelle from Sweet Something Designs - however, page no longer available)

 

If you have a shed, detached garage or a barn - go all out Americana with a Patriotic Paint Door...

Gather some branches and Paint a Patriotic Twig Flag...

 

Paint Patriotic Pillows

Great paint project for burlap, sailcloth, cotton duck, or even a drop cloth!

 

Great idea if you have wood stairs inside or concrete steps as your stoop, try a painted runner...

 

We're renting so I can't paint our stoop, but boy would I love to paint a runner!! What a dramatic difference it could make for summer curb appeal!

 

Refresh your Adirondack chairs with a Patriotic Pattern...

 

Paint a bench with a Patriotic Flag...

 

Have extra mason jars from canning? Paint yourself a Patriotic Centerpiece...

 

And this one is probably my FAVE:

Paint a Patriotic Picnic Blanket - great for the lawn or table!

Have fun! Happy painting! and Welcome July!

Thanks for stopping by!