Been practicing...

Last Christmas, Chad got me a camera. He bought Heather's old Nikon D70. I've been having a lot of fun learning how to use it. However, the more I use it, it's clear there is a lot more I need to learn! There are a few things I've learned so far; good color is hard to get and group shots are much harder than individuals. I have also found (by way of Heather's much needed and wanted constructive criticism) that I tend to shoot really light. Clearly, I need to work on getting a better understanding of my settings. Heather will start spouting off some photog speak and much of it still sounds like a foreign language to me. I have had fun practicing on anyone that will let me. I've about used all the patience and smiles from my own kids and am now resorting to friends! Anyway, here are some fun shots I've gotten over the last two months. This has been a fun, new challenge and I'm looking forward to learning much more.

What have I been doing

I think sometimes stress can manifest itself in different ways...like the previous post. ;) The last couple weeks have felt really busy. Giving two baby showers, decorating chairperson for the stake women's conference(decorating 30+ tables on a tight budget), birthdays, race training, scouting (Good job Andrew on your Arrow of Light), 3rd grade art show (Good job Sarah on having your work choosen for display), reupholstering my couch (with help I might add) and a "rockin" ward talent show (go Chad!). Here are just few pictures to illustrate.

I'm sailing away....

One of my favorite Styx songs is all too appropriate for the send off of my boys "little boy" room. If you know me, you know that I've always loved a good nautical theme for a boy. A little boy. Not a big boy and certainly not a teenager. Yes, my boys are growing up and it's time to let them move onto older themes. sniff sniff  The sailboats have more than done their job...they've been used in three house. It was time to let them retire. I actually had a hard time putting together their room. If you have boys, you know there seems to be limitations on what you can do for a boy. Once they get older, you can't let a theme (ie. sailboats) over take the room and yet, I didn't want the room to be consumed by a boring color palate.

Enter navy, green and orange. I think I found a good middle ground. And can I just say, I love the green on the walls....it's a great green....a boyish green. I have two favorite finds for the room. Can you guess what they are? The lockers and the Times Square photo. The lockers were another awesome KSL classifieds find. Cost me all of $100. They were a minty/appley green...nothing a little navy spray paint couldn't fix. (If you ask me, spray paint can fix just about anything) And that cool wall art, you ask? My beloved IKEA for a mere $60. Love, love it...feel like it brings just the right amount of cool to the room. The metal bookcases (had to saw the legs down to make them the right size) and the navy ledge shelves by their beds (perfect for Ipod and book holding) are other IKEA finds. I also love Josh's little music/lounge corner. I just knew my old paper rack could be put to good use...perfect for holding all his music and magazines. I also love the guitar hanging on the wall...useful art!

Lest you think I'm a ball of energy and just completed this, dont worry.  I did this almost a year ago, but never got around to photographing it! See the "very clean" before photo? Well, I thought of not including that and letting you think my kids rooms are always clean by using only the cropped shots. That's why I never got an after shot...the room pretty much always looks like that and you just can't have a messy after shot, right? So, today, after a big family cleaning rally, I knew my photo-op had arrived and it would quickly pass if I didn't take advantage of it. SOOO....there you have it, the boys (not so) new, improved,  and more grown up room!

The dining room is at 90%

I was recently reading a friend's blog and she talked about being a 90%er. That is so me. I tend to get 90% of a project done and either lose steam, run out of ideas or the money is gone. Pretty soon, I just accept how it is and call it good. So, that being said, here is the dining room project that I started 4 months ago and finished 4 months ago. Hopefully someday it will have curtains and be fully accessorized, but for now, this is how it will stay.

In the original post about this project, I mentioned a possible splurge. Can you see what it is? It's the new columns under the arch. From the day we bought the home that "floating arch" has driven me crazy. Where you see the white panels, there was nothing at all. I am a visual person and the arch was visually unsupported. Now, my eyes are at ease with an arch that is supported by the white paneled columns.

If you had ever told me I would have a metallic gold dining room, I would have laughed. Thankfully we are all allowed changes in opinion and taste. I love, love the result. I used the Ralph Lauren Regent Metallic paint. It is the Parlor Gold. A bit more pricey, but worth it.

One of my favorite things in the dining room is the chandelier. That was a find from the KSL classifieds. A mighty good find of $65(it retails for $400!)! This light was brand new, all I did was paint it black. I already had the table.  I am still working on the perfect centerpiece...any ideas anyone(please)?  I recycled the chairs from my previous kitchen table by painting them black. Yes, they are a bit casual , but I love the look with the upholstered end chairs (IKEA). Those IKEA chairs were so reasonable and are so fabulous. The slipcovers are fully removable (washable!) and the chair is very sturdy and comfortable. These were half the price of the chairs I almost bought from Pier 1 which felt very cheap.  I am so happy with the crisp black, white and gold scheme and I love how it coordinates with the living room. I am planning on painting the living room a color with a little more "umph" and something that will hopefully compliment the dining room.

So, whose ready to come over for dinner?

A little project...

My sister, Heather and I did a fun project yesterday. We made upholstered headboards. All it took was some plywood, batting, fabric, nail heads and staples. Final cost? Fifty dollars! Not bad for a king size headboard. Since we were limited on tools and talent, we kept the design profile and details very simple. Once we worked out a few kinks, it went really fast. I think it turned out pretty good and it's nice to finally have a headboard!

Hi, my name is Julie and I'm addicted to projects.

I think I have a problem. It's called "projects." I've decided that since I never nurtured and developed my artistic talents, this is the next best thing to satisfy that need. Why is it a problem you ask? I've got several reasons and I will tell you a few. 1) I can't shut my brain off. Once I start thinking of something it kind of takes over. (do I need medication?) 2) I think I unconsciously use these projects to ignore all other responsibilities is life.Painting a room is so much better than doing laundry. 3) They create bigger messes that I ever think they will. and 4) While I am extremely frugal, I still end up spending money that maybe I don't need to. However, I must say, the end result almost always trumps these problems. I love dreaming and scheming in my head (dreaming=big budget, scheming=almost no budget).
I've been joking lately that even if I had the money, I'd still like to do things myself and hunt around for great finds. Am I just telling myself that because I don't have the money? Maybe. But, I'd still like to think that even if I had unlimited funds, I'd still be frugal and hands on with making my home my own. (Gee, I'd like to test  out the unlimited budget someday!)
So, currently, I am working on the dining room. It has been a blank and very boring slate for 5yrs now. For sure, the first thing I do with a project is to look at what I already have and to figure out what I can do myself. I've had a black table for several years and I had some natural chairs leftover from the kitchen project (they will be painted black). They are very casual chairs, but with a nice upholstered parsons chair on each end, I think they will do! I found these great chairs at Ikea. Very reasonable, sturdy (much better than the chair I loved at Pier One...and half the price) and the slip covers are removable (ie. washable!). My most exciting find was the chandelier. $60 on the KSL classifieds. Yes, this would be $400 chandelier at Lowes and I got it for almost pennies!! I little black spray paint and I think it will go perfectly (and nicely compliment my entry light to boot). In case you haven't talked to me recently, I am a huge fan of the KSL classifieds (think Craigs List). lol I have gone with an extremely bold paint choice. A Ralph Lauren gold (yes, GOLD) metallic paint. If it plays out like it does in my head, I think the black furniture and creams in the upholstery and dish display will work together wonderfully. I'm picturing a bit of a "Frenchy" feel. And....if things work out, I may have one splurge to finish the room....

$200 and 2 months of my life...

...made a big difference in my kitchen. In case you're wondering, I used roughly40 cans of spray paint and primer.

BEFORE................................and AFTER
(please don't tell me you liked it better before) ;)









I'm almost done; I still need to decorate (accessories in window), make some sort of window treatment, stain island & table and redo stools. Sounds like a lot, but after doing those cabinets it seems very doable! lol I could have done it in a lot less time, but I between kids, summer and school, I just did a section at a time. Soooooooooo glad to be done. What do you think? I'm thinking the kitchen looks/feels bigger. It's not perfect, but it's the best I could do....and it's done!

Up to no good...

I like projects, I really do, but at the moment I'm asking myself WHY? I think I'm a glutton for punishment or maybe I just like paint fumes? Whatever the case, I'm in the middle of a big mess. Yea, go ahead and laugh....I know you think I'm crazy and you're just glad you're not me right now. ;) Someday in the future and I've awaken from the paint fumes, I'll be done with this mess and I'll be sure to share the end result. Until then, I'll be painting away while Jenna stands at my feet repeatedly telling me, "you bad guy, you bad guy." (funny how seeing me with my face covered she makes that connection)

Another project down...

(before & after)

...one step closer to doing the kitchen. This last week, I painted the cabinets in my kids bathroom. My whole goal is to make it to the kitchen, but I have to practice in other smaller areas of the house first! I lightly sanded, primed and painted white. Then I added glaze (Ralph Lauren Teastain), wiped off the glaze...leaving in the knots and edges. Finished off with two coats of polyurethane. The was much faster than the cabinets I stripped and re-stained. I am really pleased with the results...a couple things I want to tweak when I do the kitchen, though. Not the best pictures, the lighting in the bathroom is horrible. Hopefully you will get the idea! I wish I had infinite energy to do projects and the ability to keep the house maintained while doing them. Alas, the laundry and dishes don't do themselves and they quickly call me back from my HGTV daydream! ;)

Glory Hallelujah!!!!!!!!

And an Amen, Sista!!!!!! I have finally finished the staircase and I love it! It was every bit as hard as I thought...and then some. Mostly because of all the sanding I did to prep for staining. Even though the finished product took a turn from my original plan, I actually like it better this way. (If I didn't have the metal spindles I really would've wanted the walnut/white combo, but w/ what I have, I think this was the best route) It came out super smooth and even. I wanted it to look like it had always been this way (i.e. the builder did it)...and I think I came pretty close. I finished it up last Friday and spent the weekend cleaning. Holy moly....you wouldn't believe all the over-spray dust. It was everywhere. No joke.

Eventually, (I'm a little burnt out right now) I would like to paint a darker color so there is more of a contrast and pop between the walls and railings (and mantel). I would LOVE suggestions of paint colors from anyone....please! I need it to be pretty neutral since I will most likely have to repaint most of the house (open floor plan + rounded corners= no good starting/stopping points!)

BEFORE ...................&..................AFTER

I've also inlcuded a picture of the mantel. Not loving how it's decorated right now...another day, another time.

Plan *B*

Well, I've been sanding and prepping the railings for a month now. AND, I am admitting defeat. Not total defeat, but defeat to what my original intention was. Not sure if you remember, but I had wanted a combination of a dark walnut stain and white. I knew it was a HUGE undertaking and it was (and still is!). I was prepared for the amount of work I needed to do, I knew I had to get every ounce of finish off for it to take the stain....and I did. (In fact, my fingers got very raw and cracked from all the sanding). Unfortunately no amount of work and preparation could control how the wood would take the stain. I had finally reached the point that I thought I was ready to stain. My excitement was quickly deflated by what I saw. I hated it. I even tried a lighter stain. It wasn't the stain, it was the wood. I'm not sure if you can tell or not in the photo, but the wood took the stain very inconsistently. Weird wood flaws and marks were coming through. Not at all what I had invisioned. Yea, I was pretty disappointed...especially after all that work, but all is not lost. I will be painting it all white. I am pretty excited. I think it will give me the "crisp, light and bright" look that I want. Either way, I know I will like it better than what it was before...I think it will be more me. I will post when I wake up from the paint fumes!

Progress?

...I think so. A big mess? Definitely and that's an understatement! The layer of dust that is covering almost every surface in my house and filling my lungs is evidence. I've finished the mantel. I'm happy with how it turned out. Now I just need to figure out how to properly decorate it...and I think I want to change the wall color, too. Is it just me or do home projects just breed more home projects? I've made some good progress on sanding the spindles on the stairway. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that is turns
out like I hope....no going back now.

I watch too much HGTV....

and it might get me into trouble! It's like a sickness...no, really it is. I watch these shows full of fantastic projects and creativity and I just cannot turn my brain off. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I can't help, but look around my house and think, "hmmmm....I wonder if I could..." Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't love my home because I do...don't ever want to leave it. I'm a creative person and I think this is one of the ways to express it. I love putting my personal stamp on things. I just have to remind myself that I don't have a professional design team and a tent full of tools with a hunky carpenter sitting in my driveway!
So back to the point of this post. I've wanted to change a lot of the wood finishes since we moved in(everything is a natural finish, knotty alder). Way too much money to think about replacing everything, plus it's perfectly good wood. So, I've been working up the guts to make changes. A couple months back, I stripped and re-stained my master cabinets. It was a lot of work, but I was very happy with the results. Ultimately, I'd like to paint my kitchen cabinets. I actually borrowed a paint sprayer from my brother-in-law (thanks Cameron!), but I think I'm going to have to watch the user video 10x more to figure out the thing. So, I'm still working my way up to that project, as the kitchen would be a very, very costly mistake! lol So, tonight, I ran to Home Depot and grabbed some white primer and white gloss paint to do my mantel. I had toyed w/ the idea of staining it like my bathroom (please don't tell me now that would've looked better! lol) but, decided I liked the idea of the white base board trim running seamlessly into the mantel. Plus, I'm thinking white is more traditional (might equal boring to some, but traditional nonetheless!). AND I bought sandpaper...all sorts of sanding tools. What for you might ask? Umm, I want to do my railings. Yes, I know, an insane amount of work, but I'm a expressing my creativity, remember?!



( < stairyway and mantel inspiration)

SO...as of right now, I have a primed mantel and a partially (emphasis on partial) sanded railing. Have a bitten off more than I can chew? Maybe. Who knows maybe it will all turn out just like the pictures I've saved from Better Homes & Garden, or at least that's what I'll tell myself when it's all done! ;)

Around the house...

I love trying new things when it comes to making my house my own. I love my home but, when we bought it, it was a spec. So, we didn't really get to make any choices. Not that what we have isn't nice, I would just like to make it more my own. kwim? I've been wanting to do something with my cabinets for quite awhile now. It's just that making a mistake on cabinets could be a rather costly mistake. After asking the advice of friends (thank you!) who've done similar projects I decided to take the leap. Well, a small leap at least. I wanted to start in a small area where the consequences of a mistake wouldn't be as expensive. I decided to start in the master bathroom. The cabinets are knotty alder and had a natural finish...a little more rustic than I'd like. Ideally, I'd like dark cabinets and light tile. I stripped, scrapped, cleaned, sanded, wiped, stained, wiped, poly-ed, sanded, wiped, and poly-ed. Yes, it was a lot of work! For a very non-professional, I think they turned out as good as they could. I am really happy with results. Now, onto the tile, coutners, faucets and lights in the bathroom! ;)