as luck would have it

I had been searching for a good deal on solid wood dining room chairs-with a cushion seat- for MONTHS and finally stumbled across my diamonds in the rough in rural Indiana.  Leaving my mother-in-law's house we drove past a house having a garage sale and I could see 4 chairs balanced precariously on a hill so we made a quick U turn and I braved a ferocious Pitt Bull to get a closer look.  Perfect.  I bought all 4 chairs for $20 dollars!  I still squeal when I think about what an amazing deal I got!

I also got more than I bargained for.  The crackle finish on the chairs would not be sanded down so I had to resort to toxic paint stripper.  Ug.  What a messy dangerous job!  Can I just say that it is never as easy as the can tells you it will be!

Finally, the chairs have realized their potential and I love them.  It's amazing what a little elbow grease can do!

Here are 2 of the chairs in my dining room.  Yes, I make my kids sit in cheap Ikea chairs with washable cushions.  Hey, it's better than using plastic seat covers!

side note: the buffet is an Ikea buffet that looks fine as is but I wanted to give it a little more character.  I found a sheet of grass-cloth wallpaper and taped it to the doors (yes, taped..that way, I can change my mind and have very little work to do!).  

Master bedroom update

To me, the master bedroom should never be ignored but it is usually the last room in the home to get attention since it is rarely seen by company.  The master bedroom should reflect the personality of the couple and be a refuge at the end of a long day.

Before:
Colors from the mid 90's and over the top floral curtains were just too painful for the home owners.

After: The home owners love earth tones so we got rid of the old and brought in the new.

Having never decorated for someone who is 6'5" I found myself having to negotiate with the husband the placement of artwork and accessories.  Above the bed?  The trickiest placement of all, for sure, but we compromised so it's high enough that he doesn't bump his head and low enough so his 5'4" wife can see what's on the shelves. 

The home owners love the accent wall!  It's actually the same color as the chair but looks brighter with the flash.  We brought in the earth tones they love, streamlined the curtains, simplified accessories and they finally have a room that reflects who they are.

What does your bedroom say about you?

a tale of two tables

I absolutely LOVE the Svala table and chairs for kids from Ikea!

It is a blank canvas that can be personalized in ANY way.  Here are two examples of ways I have painted the tables/chairs

the medallion in the middle of the tables is an abstract of the home- owner's last name.  Can you see Miller?   

This is perfect for little boys!  They love choosing which mode of transportation to sit by - learning to associate the word with the picture is an educational  bonus.

So fun and easy to personalize these tables and chairs!  Who's next??