Ample Sample

Selecting paint colors can be a very intimidating process, even for experienced designers. Simply taping paint chips to the wall does not cut it in my opinion. Excuse the rotting banana.

Taping samples is a good start but narrow it down and take a trip to the local hardware store to buy a small sample (all brands offer samples nowadays). Purchase some bright, white foam board and paint the sample directly. Once it dries, you can move it around a room and see what it looks like in different lights (natural, incandescent, fluorescent etc). Look at it during different times of day to see if the color changes. A color can look great in the daylight but once the sun goes down and you are relying on that 1980’s framed ceiling light to illuminate the space, you might realize the paint looks like vom. No bueno.

Here is a sample board showing two paint samples I am considering for our living/dining/kitchen (see design board here).

Painting sample boards is something I always recommend. It is a safe, easy, non-committal way to test paint colors. If you are lucky, you live by an Ace Hardware and you can purchase small foam boards for a song.

Happy Painting

Raleigh Habitat ReStore Field Trip

 

While running around one Saturday in May, I decided to stop by the local Raleigh Habitat ReStore off Raleigh Boulevard. I found some pretty great stuff that could be polished up and given a great home…follow me!

 

 

 

The gorgeous dress with curved drawers, brass pulled and plenty of storage would look amazing as is. You could also get crafty and paint it peacock blue, leave the brass plates and “dip” the feet in shiny gold paint.

They have added more upholstered goods which makes me nervous sometime but with some love and cleaning, you never know!

Ooh boy! Love the flame stich on this one!

 

 

I always thought it would be fun to take the tops off these and the bottom and use it as a terrarium or candle holder on a porch.

This looks just like the one I got at North Raleigh Ministries! A can of coral spray paint, paint the clear shelves gold on the underside and BAM!

 

This metal locker/cabinet has lots of character! Turn it into a back porch liquor cabinet or mount on casters and use as a bar cart.

This trusty drafting table was only $15.00! Even if you do not draw, you could display art on it in the corner of a large room.

 

A Tisket , A Tasket

 

 

 

 

 

I made my way to the Goodwill this past weekend like I always seem to do. Stumbled across these three beauties and thought about this picture I posted here. At $1.98 per wicker item, I was out da doe!

Our guest room is a struggle for several reasons.

1. It is constantly messy with my “stuff”. Don’t have a spot for something? Put it in the guest room. This drives John bananas! I am the yang to his yin.
2. I have a hard time committing to my own personal design decisions. It is so hard for me to pull the trigger because I have about a million ideas going at once. I get nervous that once it is up I will hate it and be upset I wasted nails and put holes in my wall. Therefore the guestroom is pretty bare for the most part.

I figure at a price like this, it was exactly what needed to happen. I grabbed my box of nails and the hammer and in 2.5 seconds, had an amazing focal wall behind John’s old college bed.

 

I figure once the room is cleaned up and I make the bed, they will compliment the circular design in the Suzani pillows I made. These pillows were made with fabric samples I had gotten while at my last job in hotel design. Score!

 

See what I mean by a catch all? And obviously the bed is still unmade from when John had to sleep in there while I had the pig flu. And yes, those are dolls. The one in the middle used to scare my friends at sleepovers so I had to put her away. Now I just let her scare John 🙂

 

 

One Love Interiors : I’m Gonna Pop Some Tags

Yes, I know. That song is so last year but it is how I roll. When it came out I was so excited that thrift stores might get some more love. If you know me, you know I love a good thrift store/consignment shop/antique store. Don’t get me wrong. There are times when I purchase mass produced items at full price (it is hard to avoid). However, nothing beats getting a deal AND finding treasures that have some history to them.

Going to Goodwill is a thrill. You never know what you are going to find. Today I had the itch and mosied on down to the Strickland/Six Forks Goodwill. I always start at the frames just in case there are some gems hiding. The best thing to do is remember that you can spray paint ANYTHING!

As I was walking through the store, this fab, strapless dress from Express said “Hello, buy me”. It would be great for a wedding and I have about 3 to go to next year.

Side Note: I hate selfies. I feel foolish taking them but am going to post anyways because I cannot believe what a find this was. It looks brand new! A little loose on the top but that is the norm for me and nothing some chicken cutlets can’t fix! Holla!

The next golden nugget was a cute white top from Loft for $3.49 that makes me long for warm, summer days and Oberon beer.

BOO! The scariest Goodwill toy ever. Sad really. All alone in a toy bin. Think anyone will take him home?

This flat, basket (does that contradict itself?) would look great in a grouping on a wall in a kitchen or above a rustic fireplace similar to the photo from Slimpaley.com.

One Love Tips On Thrifting

• Remember that just because it is super cheap, doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Goodwill receipts can add up too!
• Throw all clothing or upholstered items in the washing machine IMMEDIATELY. Wash with hot water and dry with high heat if possible. I have a crazy fear of bed bugs (probably from working for the hotel developer and being in and out of hotel rooms…bed bugs don’t discriminate).
• Ask yourself if you will wear something at least 3-5 times. If so, you have your money’s worth. Just remember to re-donate!
• Look for home decor items that are classic and not too dinky. Again, just because it is cheap doesn’t mean you have to buy it.
• Spray paint is your friend. Turn that hideous Santa figurine into a classy Christmas prop!
• Check out the jewelry section. See a necklace with some cool beads? Cut it up and use the beads in a new set up earrings. Re-purpose people.
• Check for stains. Yucky.
• There really is no secret on what time of day you visit. Goodwill keeps stuff flowing all the time. It is either hit or miss.
• Bring cash or check.

Now, I must go look incredible with my thrift shop finds from down the road.

Must Make Something Pretty Now

Oftentimes I will go into our guest room / office / storage place for all of Ashley’s junk and craft supplies and start to clean. As I start putting stuff away, I find other cool stuff. Stuff I have not seen in awhile. Frames and paint and markers and wreath forms and hole punches. All kinds of stuff that I am hoarding. You never know when I might need a half finished cork wreath, I mean, come on!

Today, I thought it might be a good time to clean the guest room (post holiday madness) and I found a plain white frame I bought from Target a few months ago. Our mantel is looking pretty bare and I wanted to bring in some dark blue that we have in our table runner and dining area drapes. Hmmm…what do I have that is dark blue that can be framed. I instantly went to my random fabric pile and pulled out an old dress that I grabbed from a friend before she donated it to Goodwill. It is a simple cotton dress from Old Navy and at one point I thought I could make a clutch or skirt out of it. The pattern is perfect I thought! So I went to work with my white frame and old dress.

Here are my subjects (ignore the beautiful stain on the carpet).

1. Take out the back of the picture frame and lay it against the portion of the dress you want framed. There were no seams in this particular section of the dress so it was perfect.

2. Cut around the cardboard and iron flat.

3. Insert into frame.

4. Boom. Fancy framed fabric in under 5 minutes. Knowing me I will probably switch it out when the weather gets warmer and when we re-do our living room (I am working on a materials board right now) but until then, my 5 minute art will make me happy.

Our mantel is very long and so styling it has not been very easy. I welcome any suggestions!

Now, do you think it would be inappropriate to wear this crotch-less beauty?