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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Coffee table makeover

OK, so I haven't blogged in a week or two. My computer went down for about a week, so I had to get hubby Chad to fix it. Boo for computer issues, but alas, I'm back up and running.

So a about a week ago, I went to the local Habitat for Humanity Store and found this coffee table:
It was all kinds of nasty. It had teeth marks on the sides where a dog had chewed on it, and the bottom panel was so dirty. 
I suppose I was the only one who saw potential in it, because it was marked down to half off, which made it $10.00. 
Once I got it home, I wiped it down, and took out the bottom panel. I then sanded the chewed up edges with a little sandpaper hand block. Once I had sanded, I wiped the piece down again.
  I kept the bottom panel and took it to Lowe's where I had a new piece to fit the bottom. Easy Peasy. (We had to go to Lowe's three times to get it cut. The third time I just took the whole table in a buggy and told them to make it fit. Third time worked like a charm :))
Once I got home from Lowe's, I then screwed the bottom panel in, and then primed the table.
After I let the primer dry for a day, I painted the coffee table with Valspar Semi-Gloss Paint. The color is Montpelier Ashlar Gray (6004-1C).
I am very pleased with how it turned out!

I think the color of the table tones down the red couches.


I also like how the glass is a tinted grey. I think it gives it a different look versus "regular" glass.


Skipper decided to take an afternoon nap, so he totally photobombed my picture!
We had our home-warming party yesterday.  We had a great party, and all our friends and family came out. I can't wait to throw more parties in my new home!
xoxo
Jill




Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Tuesday Tunes

photo art by Charla Hayen

I'm just going to tell you some truth: I am a music snob. And, I will tell you when I hear them play on the radio, that I discovered them a LONG time ago (ex. Ellie Goulding, Lorde..etc..). This annoys my friends and family, but generally they know about the artist too, since I share music that I like and that's exactly what I'm going to do here too. So here is my Fall 2013 playlist. There's some brand new stuff, some old stuff, and some in between.

NOTE: Half of this music is free on soundcloud. Some isn't, but if you like it-buy it.

1. Silhouette- Active Child ft. Ellie Goulding
https://soundcloud.com/#active-child/silhouette-feat-ellie-goulding

2. If You Wait-Loudon Grammar (Budo Remix)
FREE DOWNLOAD--CLICK HERE
https://soundcloud.com/#budo/london-grammar-if-you-wait

3. Evening Ceremony- Active Child
https://soundcloud.com/#active-child/evening-ceremony

4.Bon Iver- Wash (Chad Sabo Remix)
FREE DOWNLOAD--CLICK HERE
https://soundcloud.com/#chad-sabo/wash-bon-iver-remix

5. Alaskans-Volcano Choir
https://soundcloud.com/#cesca-boughton/volcano-choir-alaskans

6.Indian River-Grecian Urns
https://soundcloud.com/#amercancraker/indian-river-grecian-urns

7. Facing West-The Staves
FREE DOWNLOAD--CLICK HERE
https://soundcloud.com/#atlantic-records-uk/the-staves-facing-west

8. Murder In The City-The Avett Brothers
https://soundcloud.com/#theavettbrothers/02-murder-in-the-city

9. And If You Go, (I'm Coming Along)-Fossil Collective
https://soundcloud.com/#fossilcollective/and-if-you-go

10. Come Down-Crooked Colours
FREE DOWNLOAD--CLICK HERE
https://soundcloud.com/#crookedcolours/come-down

11. Bridges-BROODS
FREE DOWNLOAD--CLICK HERE
https://soundcloud.com/#broods/bridges-1

12. Mock Origami-Matthew and The Arrogant Sea
https://soundcloud.com/#matthewandthearrogantsea/mock-origami

13. Sister Winter- Sufjan Stevens (Broke for free remix)
FREE DOWNLOAD--CLICK HERE
https://soundcloud.com/#broke-for-free/sister-winter-broke-for-free

14.Pryo- Kings of Leon (Houses Remix)
FREE DOWNLOAD-CLICK HERE
https://soundcloud.com/#housesmusic/kings-of-leon-pyro-houses

15. Faces-Reuben Hollebon
https://soundcloud.com/#reubenhollebon/faces-1

16. Big Jet Plane- Angus & Julia Stone (acoustic)
https://soundcloud.com/#mattbox/angus-and-julia-stone-big-jet-plane-acoustic

17. Summer Scarves-Butch Walker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq3EWGHgqGY

18. Sweater Weather-The Neighborhood
https://soundcloud.com/#theneighbourhood/sweater-weather

19. Amsterdam-Daughter (L C A W Remix)
FREE DOWNLOAD
https://soundcloud.com/#l-c-a-w/daughter-amsterdam

20. Shot in the Light-The Killers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4YK-DEkvcw

And that concludes my Fall 2013 playlist. Hope you enjoy it!



Monday, November 4, 2013

DIY dresser turned TV stand

 
Before I get into this DIY- I must tell you about the great living room debacle. Our living is very narrow, with one accent wall being a brick fireplace, and the other being this "cubby" you see in the picture. On the other two walls, there is a window and on the other is a open window that looks into the kitchen. Initially had great plans to put our TV above the fireplace, since that is the focal point of the room. Obviously that was a lapse of judgment since mounting the TV to the brick would be a you-know-what, and the fact that the TV is too big to fit above the mantle. SO-what's a girl to do? Chad and I looked and looked for entertainment centers, and could not settle on what we liked. I wanted something to hold our million DVD's and multimedia. We finally came across this little gem at our local Habitat for Humanity Store.
 

I immediately liked this piece, although I didn't purchase it until later that week. I knew it was a sign when I went down there and it was still there and marked down $20.00. I spent $50.00 on the dresser.
So I brought it home and wiped it down.
 
The first thing I did was got my supplies together.
For this project you'll need:
-A band sander
-At least 4 sanding belts (I used 120 grit)
-primer (I used Zinsser All Purpose Primer) 1 quart
-your paint of choice (I used Valspar's Semi-gloss paint in Seine color (6005-2B) 1 quart
-paintbrushes (duh, but Chad says to put it on here)
-Drill with circle bit (1 inch)
-Flat head screw driver or electric screwdriver
 
TIME:  16 hours (We did this on a weekend in between doing other stuff)
 
First, we took the drawers out of the dresser and took the knobs off.( I suggest putting the knobs and screws all together so you don't lose them). Then I began sanding. There were some deep knicks in the wood, so we took most drawers down to the wood. I would also suggest getting some breathing masks, if you need to do a lot of sanding. The last thing you want is to be breathing that stuff. Also, use plastic underneath your project unless you want sand and dust in your garage forever.
 
 

 
Ta-da!

 
 
After sanding was completed (which is the majority of this project), Chad took the blower and blew all the sand and dust out of the garage. We knew we wanted to leave a drawer or two out of the dresser so we could have room for our PlayStation, and VCR (don't hate- I love childhood movies), so Chad used his drill and a circle bit to cut out a space for the outlet plug to fit through.
 

After the holes were cut, we took our screwdriver and took out the runner for the drawer.
Like so:
 

 
Then Chad took his blower and blew off the dresser to ensure no dust or sand was left over. I also took a cloth and wiped the dresser down with water.
 

 
 After that, it was time for paint. As mentioned before we used an all-purpose primer. We choose all purpose for two reasons, 1) We didn't think we would sand all the dresser down to the raw wood, and needed something that would go on all surfaces, and 2) We knew we wouldn't use the whole quart. (and, thus gives me some for later projects :)
 
 
We painted the whole dresser in primer. You'll want to do paint all the surface of the furniture even if you don't sand to maintain an "even look".
 
 

After we primed and had paint everywhere, we let it dry. It was a pretty fall day, so we let it dry outside while we went to a birthday party. Happy 50th Uncle Sammy :)
When we returned, we  I  painted the dresser with Valspar Seine color. We decided to use the original knobs, so we painted those as well.
I let the dresser dry overnight, and then did touchups.

 
Then we moved it into the living room and I installed the knobs.
 

 
After that was done, I put all the drawers in, and unpacked the million DVD's we have. Ok, maybe like 60, but still.
 

 
 
 We also set up out TV, PlayStation and VCR. I put a few decor items up, and viola!
much success!!
 


 
I love it the way this project turned out. This piece really compliments our living room. Now I gotta work on that mantle, and get some decor on the walls!
I'd love to see what furniture you makeover!
Until next time.
- Jill -
 
 
 

Friday, November 1, 2013

Hello November!

 
So today was the start of November! I personally am looking forward to November. It's my hubby's birthday month, and, of course, I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. Also, this month is our homewarming party! We still have lots to do around the house including revamping a dresser I bought a few weeks ago. I sanded the drawers tonight, and it is coming along great. I cannot wait to showcase this as a DIY project, and show the final reveal.
I was going to add a picture, but alas-it will not let me upload it. Guess I will show you the before and after when it is done! Until then, Jill

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to everyone! Chad and I just got done with "trick or treating" at our hometown's block party. Sadly it started raining, so we came home. Speaking of which, we have been in our new home for little over a month and I love it. Today I was reminiscing about my love for Halloween. Ever since I was little, I would dress up and go trick or treating. It is easily one of my favorite holidays. I also love dressing up. Oh, and candy. That, too. So here's some of my previous outfits from past Halloweens!

2010-Chad and I as Chilean Miners

2012-Black Swan and Anonymous

2013-Kate Middleton with baby Prince George

I hope everyone has a safe and great night & I for one am going to lay back and eat some candy!
-Jill