home improvements

With spring in the air and company arriving soon, comes the motivation for home improving.  My first project was powerwashing and restaining our deck and playsets.  I found this great product at Lowes called Restore that made our icky old deck seem like a Trex deck.  It is not cheap (1 gal covers 50 sq ft, versus 1 gal of stain covering 250 sq ft) but I am so happy with the results.  I also slip-proofed the stairs and bridge on the playset by painting them with this prduct as well.

Next.  The Basement.  Finally.  The Basement! 

Our house is forever a work in progress.  It is nice to finally be making some.  Slow by sure.  While my husband worked on studding the wall and doing the electric, I worked on trimming out our fireplace.  This is officially my second wood working project and it is completely addicting.  So many more pinterest possibilities now that I can cut my own wood! 

Taking inspiration from one of my favorite blogs, this is what I am doing with the fireplace.  I still have a bit of work to do, but it is coming along.  I will try to get some actual finished pics up soon!

My next Pinterst project is this fantastic ruler growth chart. 

dear lillie

And then possibly this mat:

from Martha Stewart

Oh...and the garden. Once we have the adoption and party out of the way...the garden needs some love.

hello my name is elisabeth and I am addicted to second hand shopping

Seriously.

I have shopped through cgslist for many years and scored all kinds of deals.  I could do a whole post on our cgslist finds.  Yesterday, my husband completely indulged me.  I needed to get out of the house.  We drove 30 minutes to a 40,000 sq ft used furniture warehouse with the most amazing prices. 

Find #1: I found this adorable vintage desk set (and I was really just after the chair) for $20. 

I am in the process of doing some refinishing to what was a laminate top.  If I can convince my husband, that will be his bedside table. 

 As I said I was just after the chair. I originally got the idea from Restoration Hardware who lists this chair at $119.

  

And I found this guy on Etsy selling a similar set for 295!

Find #2, I was looking for a night stand and found this vintage desk for $15.  

Suddenly I think I have a thing for collecting vintage desks.  This is my fourth in a month!  I think I will refinish this one.  

I wanted to find some cute shutters to make a head board for our guest room.  This used furniture store had shutters in seriously used/weathered condition for $15 each.  I didn't love any of them.  On the way home we stopped at the ReStore.  Habitat for Humanity's resale outlet.  In love, again!

I found these shutter doors for $5.

I am not sure yet if I want to leave them vertical or turn them horizontal (cutting off the bottom).  The ReStore also had solid wood doors in the $20 range.  We totally need to replace our hollow core bedroom doors.  And we may be redoing our bathroom from the ReStore!

Tomorrow, if we have a few extra minutes, I am dying to check our our city's historical district.  They have a architectural salvage of building materials from older buildings.  While I understand second hand decorating may not be for everyone, I am so excited about it!  New does not work with our cash only debt-free plan.  Vintage and I are new BFFs.

painted furniture

Recently I am in love with painted furniture.  I have decided my style is cottage.  I am slowly adding to our theme on a budget by converting, yard sailing, flea marketing, etc to adjust our decor.     I love how easy it is to paint furniture and how cheap you can find awesome pieces on craigslist.  

{before}

this is furniture I inherited from my grandparents years ago (as pictured in our old home).  Nothing fancy, broyhill circa 60s or 70s I suppose.  The table was so water stained and ugly I would not allow it to see the light of day.

{after}

pretty painted legs and natural finish top

the chairs were a craigslist find from a restaurant

painted and scuffed hutch and buffet

 

 

{before}

old electrical wire spool, purchased in yard sale last week for $4

{after}
Painted spool converted to coffee/play table
Pottery Barn Rug on Craigslist $100; Sofa on Craigslist $100

And a few more "before" yard sale finds:

Highchair purchased in yard sale for $2;
to be used as doll chair/high seat for table

Apple crate purchase for $3 - will not be painted

Pair of school desks purchased for $20