A Beautiful kitchen Re-do

I came across these beautiful photos of a kitchen re-do a couple of days ago. Did you happen to see these? They were first featured on Shelterpop (And you can read all about the transformation at that site.) This is where I found another link to the blog of the Designer who created this beautiful kitchen. Her name is Linda Merrill and she has a wonderful blog called Surroundings.

Two of my favorites are shown in this shot. A beautiful black and white tile floor and a burlap skirted countertop. The Designer explained that she created the counter top out of an old door she had in her garage and then she made the burlap skirting to go around it. I wonder what she’s got stored underneath there? I love how she uses this as a bar for when she entertains.

Here are the BEFORE shots. At least she starts out with the gorgeous floors. But the cabinets look dark and dated.

It’s amazing what a difference new hardware and painting the cabinets made. And look how she used beadboard wall paper on her walls to brighten them up and to add some personality. Did you notice how she used more burlap for her window treatments? I think it’s the French flair she gave the space that makes me like it so much. Just lovely!

Progress!

 

As I said yesterday, decorating a teenage boy’s room is not easy!  It is still not done but I have to say steady progress is being made.  Although I have to admit, very slowly! 

    

With the 98 degree temperatures, yesterday and today were spent indoors in the AC.  So while I was feeling a bit trapped in my house, I decided to to spend some of the time painting a canvas for my son’s wall.  Yesterday I posted a photo of the inspiration pillow I was going to use and explained how an empty black canvas was already hanging on his wall just waiting for someone to paint something on it.  The only problem was that he was still sleeping and probably would be for many more hours (you know teenage boys like to sleep) and I wanted to get to work!   I was brave and I quietly crept into his room and picked the empty black canvas off of his wall.  He did wake up for a few seconds…long enough to give me the Evil Eye… but not interested enough to ask me what I was doing and then drifted off again.  :)

This was a very easy project to do.  I used a canvas that was painted with some black craft paint.  I then took a yard stick and a pencil and I marked on the canvas where I wanted the vertical lines and circles to be.  I did one column at a time because I wanted to vary the sizes of my circles and I didn’t want it to look crowded. This way I could visually see where the next column should go after I had the first one drawn.   I also measured from the side edges for each vertical line and made a tic mark at the top and bottom of the canvas and then lined my yard stick up to both tic marks to that I was sure to get a straight line.

  

I used drinking glasses to get the assorted circles that I needed and outlined either the top or bottom of the glass for perfect circles.  For the smallest circles, I traced around my craft paint bottles. 

Then all I had to do was fill in the circles with paint.  I did two coats for all the circles except the green circles which needed an extra 3rd coat of paint.

 

For the lines that thread through all of the circles I used a gray colored glaze paint that I had left over from another project.  It has a metallic and almost shimmery look to it. In the first few photos I only had a single gray thread running through the circles but when you look closely at the pillows they had two threads…so I added a 2nd thread.  It made a big difference I think and looks more like the pillows.

    

In this shot I am trying to show the “pebble” like texture that his quilt has in it. 

 

And here it is finally hanging on the wall. 

My son says he likes it.  I think that’s code for he’s glad it’s done and I won’t be tip toeing into his room in the early morning to take empty canvas’ to be painted off of his walls. :)

 

I still have some more work to do in here but at least the basics are taken care of.  And I am still considering re-painting it a darker color of gray but for right now it’s good. 

Is decorating a room ever really done?  :)

The Sun Room

 

This is my favorite room in the house.  It’s the Sun Room. 

It is always bright, cheerful, and filled with light. 

I especially love all the light in the morning. 

 

It even feels “sunny” on the days it doesn’t shine. :)

Yesterday, I decided to move some furniture.  The Small green table I found earlier this year was in my kitchen.  But I thought I would try it in the Sun Room today.  I think I like it here better!

The lamp looked great in the kitchen but not so much now in the Sun Room.  I’ll be keeping my eye out for a new lamp.

 

I was also thinking of re-painting this room.  Right now it is a sage green.  But I kind of like it again.  Believe me , there are plenty of other rooms to paint.  I am moving this one to the bottom of the list for right now. 

  

We have big plans for the weekend which is nice.  Our friends host a golf tournament each year and pick a different charity to give the raised money to.  In the past, money has been raised for Alzheimer’s, ALS, The Heart Association, and this year the charity is a local one called Red Dog Farm which is an animal rescue organization here in Greensboro.  The weekend will kick off tonight with a party and then the golfing will take place tomorrow.   I have opted not to golf tomorrow but my husband will be golfing.  Let’s hope the daily thunderstorms we have been having hold off for tonight and tomorrow! 

Enjoy your weekend!!