Home Improvements

The Special Interest Publications by Better Homes & Gardens are one of my all time favorite go to resources for DIY ideas.  Today, I thought I’d pass along some of the ideas from my inspiration files that I think are flat out fabulous. 

Enjoy ! 

How cool is this idea to wallpaper the drawers of a dresser with a little decoupage ?

 

Sew a half dozen sheer napkins together for a cafe curtain, and add charm with mismatched flatware as curtain hooks !

 

Add a pop of color to your pantry by sewing kitchen towels into basket liners. 

 

Jazz up your summer table by hot gluing decorative items like sea glass (or vintage buttons, glass gems, etc.) to plain napkin rings.

 

Transform the drab into the fab by backing an ordinary bookshelf with wallpaper and replacing the wood shelves with glass.  Très chic !

 

Refashion a shutter and some brackets into a one-of-a-kind shelf and coat rack for your entry. 

 

Add vintage charm with skeleton keys mounted to an embroidery hoop backed with scrap paper or wallpaper remnants.  Very creative !

 

Float stock cabinets off the wall, remove two doors, then add a pop of color to the remaining door fronts.  I love the crafty clock made out of foam core, paper secured with spray adhesive, chipboard numbers and an clock making kit.   So fun !

 

Got a great vintage piece of cloth but you’ll never wear the outdated piece ?  Refashion it into shams and an accent pillow.  Brilliant !

 

Create a sheer canopy with panels and a ceiling medallion centered above a bed. 

 

Use garden hanging baskets mounted low in a kid’s room to corral toys and books.  Be sure to secure to your wall studs !

 

Build a unique pencil holder out of rosettes from the lumber department !  Or how about this – fill a pair of them with sand, top it with another rosette, and you’d have a perfect set of original bookends.

 

Add interest to a plain vase by using painter’s tape to create your design, then  sponging on some colored glass paint. 

 

Convert an old fashioned end table into a modern file cart and tool storing station.  This is genius ! 

 

Add a touch of garden themed whimsy to your kitchen by bringing in a trellis and displaying your kitchen utensils. 

 

Another plain shelf is given new life with fresh paint, contrasting scalloped molding, and decorative paper secured to the back.  You can spot the ‘Before’ in the bottom corner. 

 

All images courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publications. 

Aren’t these the most fabulous ideas ?   Which one is your favorite ?

A few weeks ago you all saw the new color I painted in the refreshed kitchen !  Every morning it’s like a breath of fresh air walking into this space, and I’m so glad  I took the time to add new paint and accessories.  So I thought I’d break down the step-by-step on how I painted the kitchen cabinetry, specifically the island, and wrap up a few other details as well. 

Here’s a quick reminder of the island, Before and After:

Here are the steps I followed for refinishing my kitchen cabinetry in oil with a brush technique.   For projects larger than this, consider renting a professional paint sprayer for quicker and smoother application.

The steps I followed for refinishing my kitchen island:

1) Remove all hardware, doors and drawer fronts. 

2) Clean any dirt, grime or grease off the cabinets, then lightly sand them with a sander or sanding pad.  Medium grit (#60 – #80) should work just fine. 

3)  Tape off all of your appliances, and inside of cabinets if necessary, and prep your area for priming and painting. 

4)  I recommend oil based primer on kitchen or bath cabinetry because it has a  bonding agent and a harder finish.  It’s also necessary to use oil based primer if you plan to use oil based paint (see Step 4).  In addition, it also helps to use a conditioning additive like Penetrol to lengthen the time you have to work with your oil based primer and to minimize brush strokes.

5)  After your primer is dry, sand any brush strokes that do occur with a medium to fine sanding pad.

6)  Apply two coats of oil based paint.  I chose oil over latex because I believe it’s better to use oil based paint on cabinetry in high traffic areas like kitchens or baths because oil based paint is typically more durable over time.  I used semi-gloss for its shine and a surface that’s easy to clean. 

Wait the full drying time between coats.  For me, it was 24 – 36 hours.  If you don’t want to wait that long, you can use an additive called Japan Dryer to speed up the drying time of your oil based paint. 

Lightly sand between coats with fine grit sanding pad.  Pay careful attention with your second and final coat and concentrate on avoiding drips and minimizing brush strokes.  Many people use a roller to apply the paint, and a brush to fill in the crevices, but I find since you have to go over the roller marks with the brush anyway, why not just dirty up one tool instead of two, especially when working with oil based products.  

 

7) You need to clean up any oil based product with mineral spirits or paint thinner.  One thing I like to do with smaller projects using oil based products is buy the 5 for $5 dollars Rubbermaid paintbrushes at Target, then toss them out when I’m done rather than dealing with cleanup.  (I do toss them out with the other toxins that go to the toxic waste disposal site due to the residue on the brushes.)

I didn’t use a sprayer for this small project, but if I was redoing an entire kitchen I’d rent a professional sprayer – it’s what the professionals use.  For example, take a peek at Janell’s kitchen and her play by play about how professionals refinished her wood cabinets with white oil based paint.  That’s the one good thing about paying the professionals the big bucks – then you don’t have to deal with the clean up !       

And now if anyone wants to see a video of me talking about this kitchen project, I put a few clips together.  I cannot guarantee anything special, in fact the quality of the video somehow deteriorated in transmission.  But I can guarantee a cure for your insomnia with this four minute video of me babbling on about oil based paint.   So if you’re having trouble sleeping, click on over right here. 

Other Kitchen Upgrades:

Now y’all know I’m a big believer in the transformative power of spray paint.  BIG believer.  I was playing around with a vignette for above the mantel and fixated on the idea of a mirror in the kitchen.   I found the mirror and the candlesticks at a discount store and gave them a coat of my best friend, Rustoleum’s ‘Heirloom White’.

I also found this wire basket on clearance – I liked it in blue and loved the modern shape, but the color was not right for my kitchen. 

Rustoleum’s American Accents in ‘Oregano’ to the rescue. 

 

I recovered my barstools with some botanical themed fabric, and the breakfast peninsula bench with a soft green tweed.  Did I bother to remove the fabric underneath ?  Nah. 

 

I also created this simple no sew valance for the kitchen garden window. 

It’s a pale mushroom colored silk like fabric with a hint of green and a bit of shimmer.  It was on clearance at Joann’s Fabrics for $5/yard.  For the no sew valance above the window, I followed these steps. 

1) I recycled the 1” x 2” birch strip from the old valance I made last year.  2) I clipped two strips of fabric for the swags.  3) Then I used fusible web to give the edge of the fabric a finished seam.  4) Then I measured my desired length of fabric for the fall in front of the window.

5)  I cut my fabric to the desired drop length (times two) then folded my length of fabric in half then stapled it to the top of the birch.  I wrapped the fabric around the edge, secured with a staple, then covered the staple with the fabric from the top (as shown).  Then I secured the valance to the window with the ‘L’ brackets from the old valance.  6)  I pressed the strips of swag fabric with an iron, then used fusible web to seal the fabric together.  7) I used fabric glue to secure the trim to the swag fabric strips, then finally (8) I used a staple gun to secure the swag strips to the underside of the valance. 

No sewing !

So that’s the final post about all the details that went into the transformation !   You can see the original reveal right here, and check out this follow up article with your questions answered. 

Have any of you refinished your bathroom or kitchen cabinets ?  What was your experience ? 

I have a really hard time staying focused at Lowes, or any home improvement store for that matter.  Asking me to go into a home improvement store and pick up only one particular thing is pretty much like asking a kid to ignore the cookie jar on the counter.  It ain’t happening.   I start meandering down aisles, dreaming up projects, then all of a sudden I’ve disappeared into a vortex.  I’ve forgotten why I was there in the first place, daylight has disappeared, and they’ve sent out a search party.   

Such is the story of this little purchase two weeks ago.  I was at Lowes to purchase something simple like sanding pads, then before I knew it I was in the garden department again.  It was there that a ‘Jiffy’ Greenhouse stared me down and beckoned me toward him.  He somehow convinced me with his $6 dollar price tag and numbered tutorial that he needed  me.  Or I needed him.   Apparently, I didn’t need to use the egg cartons I’ve used in the past to start my sprouts.  This year, I needed  a ‘Jiffy’ Greenhouse.  

Tomatoes, basil, and delphinium are three of my favorite things to grow.   So I thought I’d get a head start on a few of my garden essentials.  

I watered the funny little soil pellets. 

 

Planted my seeds.  Got my fingers dirty.  

 

 

Placed my greenhouse in the window, and ten days later – sprouts ! 

Will wonders never cease. 

Got any big plans for your garden this year ?  Cause I’ve got three more six month premium memberships to Picnik for those who missed out on the last Picnik giveaway !  You can read my review of Picnik’s online photo editing program here.

How to be eligible to win one of the three premium memberships ?  Simply answer this question: What is your favorite thing to grow in your garden ?   If you lack a green thumb, you can still have a chance to win.  Tell us your most favorite thing that grows period.  Is it your neighbor’s roses ?  A tree in your favorite park ?  Your most favorite flower ?  Spill the green beans, and I’ll choose three winners at random at the end of the week !   Then you’ll be on your way to enhancing your own photos of your garden all summer long.

[One entry per person please.  Three winners chosen by Random.org.  Giveaway ends Saturday March 13th at 8 p.m. PST.]  

I’m such a fool for vintage linens.  I especially love heirloom fabrics with hand embroidered details, or cottons with a touch of ladylike lace.  Vintage tea towels remind me of something I’d see nestled on top of my grandmother’s vanity beside her silver comb and mirror. 

So when I spotted a stack of vintage tea towels at a local antique store for a few dollars each, I purchased three to create some unique pillows for friends who are about to have little ones. 

Just like a bride, I think every nursery deserves a touch of something old and something new.  So I created these tea towel pillows  – they are sewn together with a crisp cotton  vintage tea towel, a scrap of accent fabric, and some modern trim. 

Simple Sew Vintage Tea Towel Pillows

Supplies:  Tea towel (mine were 24” x 15”); scrap of fabric measuring 15” x 15”; cotton lining measuring the size of your tea towel; polyester batting/filling; trim of choice; fusible web (optional).

Note:  I am the first one to disclaim that I have limited sewing skills.  Me sew straight line.  Me sew good straight line.  Me no sew anything else but good straight line. 

Step One:  Secure cotton lining to tea towel with fusible web (is it web or webbing?), or with straight stitch on sewing machine. 

Press your cotton tea towels nice and crisp with an iron. 

Let’s pause.  Freshly ironed crisp white cotton and lace is a weakness of mine.  A definite infatuation.   A borderline obsession.  There I said it.  I feel better.  Now let’s return to our regularly scheduled programming. 

Now is a good time to attach any trim to the front edge, whether underneath (like these ruffles) or on the top, like the pom-pom trim on the green version.   I (foolishly) waited until the end to secure my trim.   Lesson learned: do it in the beginning ! 

Step Two:  Measure the length of your tea towel (mine was 24”) and divide by two.  Allow for a few extra inches for your tea towel to overlap your accent fabric.  I measured approximately roughly kinda sorta something like nine inches. 

 

Secure with pins and sew tea towel to accent fabric. 

Now your tea towel should overlap your accent fabric and look kinda sorta sumptin’ like this. 

Step Three:  After you’ve attached your tea towel to your accent fabric, fold it inside out and secure with pins on the three open sides.  Do not pin the top since you won’t be sewing it closed on that side. 

Sew bottom and two sides, allowing for a few inches in one corner to stuff your pillow.  Do NOT sew the top seam of the pillow since the tea towel folds around and over the top.   

Step Four:  Stuff your pillow with batting and hand stitch your pillow closed.  You can see in this photo how the tea towel forms the entire back of the pillow, and the accent fabric appears only in the front. 

 

Just about any kind of tea towel can be refashioned into a fresh accent pillow.  I can imagine vintage embroidered cottons paired with bold bright modern fabrics like Amy Butler or Heather Bailey designs !  You could even use an inexpensive linen napkin in a fresh pastel from a retail store to pair with any tea towel.  Add beading, trim, ruffles, lace – whatever makes you happy.  

The only thing that remains is to hand embroider the baby’s birth date in the corner. 

Now isn’t that just sew sweet ?  

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With all the rain we’ve had lately, the weekend sunshine convinced us to forget all of our obligations, and get out and have some real fun.  The Mister and I took off for Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg to mix and mingle with friends and the rest of the tourists who journeyed to Barrel Tasting Weekend in Wine Country !

Barrel Tasting Weekend is an annual tradition where visitors are offered a pour straight from the barrel before the wine is bottled.  Many times the winemaker is on scene to educate and answer questions.   Everyone is so friendly and social, smiling from ear to ear.  But I’m thinking that has a lot to do with the scenery and free flowing wine. 

The drive out to visit all these wineries never disappoints, spring through fall.

 

 

I don’t know if there is anything more charming than a white farmhouse with a wrap around porch.  I made Mr CG stop just so I could take a picture of this ‘dream’ house.  I think if I lived here, I’d just never leave.  *Sigh*.

We stopped first at Lambert Bridge Winery in Dry Creek Valley.  Call me crazy, but I really want a truck just like this to call my own – not to haul barrels, but all that furniture from thrift stores !

I made friends with the resident pooches. 

Such sweet faces !

Then I spotted this original candelabra – an old vine dipped in silver.  Mega cool. 

I love how so many wineries have dogs and cats, sometimes chickens and roosters, wandering the property.  There’s something about these critters that feels so welcoming !  I made this feline friend at Rafanelli Winery.

 

We visited one of my top five favorite wineries, Ferrari-Carano. 

I adore this formal French inspired facade. 

 

There is an upstairs tasting room where I spied this beautiful pottery.  I love the urn, and those candlesticks ?  Be mine please. 

Also another grapevine branch candelabra, this time a blanched version.  Such a cool centerpiece ! 

Downstairs is the super chic modern tasting room Enoteca, nothing like the light and bright upstairs tasting room.   

Rich wood tones and glamorous black barstools with gold detail. 

Arched ceilings, troweled walls, and glossy black paneling and chandeliers. 

Once you escape the tasting rooms, you must walk the grounds – they’re enchanting.  Ferrari-Carano is famous not only for their wines, but their gardens as well.  

Today the tulips put on quite a show !

The daffodils had their own exhibition. 

Not to be outdone by the magnolia blossoms.

 

In welcome contrast to the formality of Ferrari-Carano, we ended our afternoon at the locals’ favorite watering hole, the Dry Creek General Store where you can buy sandwiches, sample cheeses, and hang out along the covered porch. 

 

No city slickers here – only loud country music and good times !   

Well that’s not entirely true. . . 

Any place that serves wine and cheese along with beer and chips is our kind of place. 

James Joyce once said, “What is better than to sit at the end of a day and drink wine with friends?”

To tell you the truth, I’m not really sure.