The Table is In!

 

Welp, it's finally finished!

I made this table way harder than it should have been, and in the future I will be able to complete a table way quicker.

The trouble with this table was that it had to be built in our garage (and by ours, I mean my husband's side, he was thrilled... thrilled to have his garage back!) and installed at our cottage in pieces, so I couldn't assemble it and then paint and stain it.  The top alone weighs around 100 lbs, give or take.

I do love how it turned out though!

Because of the natural hickory floor and stained pine ceiling at the cottage, I chose a driftwood stain. To achieve this color I used a mix of Rustoleum Kona and Driftwood stains. Everyone's idea of driftwood seems to be different, but I took a piece that I found on the beach in Grand Haven and matched as close as I could to that, creating a very rich gray-brown. 

I love a good contrast, so the off-white legs that match the kitchen cabinets are just what this table needed to create a harmonious balance of light and dark. I lightly distressed them and put several coats of poly-crylic over all of it. I'm hoping that because it boasts a more rustic finish, that the inevitable dings will not show as much.

I was hoping that the two wicker chairs I got off Craigs List would be tall enough to act as captains chairs, but they look ridiculously small in comparison to the red wooden chairs. Placing them in the middle seems to work just fine though. 

The best part about this table being finished is that my husband actually said several times that he wants me to make another table. I was shocked! I really thought this was my last adventure in woodworking for at least 25 years. 

Looks like I might be making a headboard and a day bed for my boys after all! ;)

Design Board: Colorful Cottage Dining Room

I've been busy scouring thrift shops and Craig's List for the right dining chairs to pair with the Farmhouse dining table that's currently in progress in our garage. Right away I found a couple of simple wicker parsons chairs for $40, and just last night I found a set of 6 wooden chairs that were originally purchased from World Market for sale at $15 each. 8 sturdy chairs for around $100 sounds good to me!

So here's the plan:

Here's the problem:
I have 5 colors and 8 chairs. In my very particular mind, there is a great need to eliminate one color, so that two chairs can be painted one of each color. I'm thinking the orange has to go. The color is great, but it's the easiest to remove and still keep the colorful look I'm trying to achieve here. Maybe it has a place somewhere else in the future. As a centerpiece on the table, or maybe in artwork on the walls. Only time will tell.

So instead of going on, I'm going to get back to building the table and refinishing the chairs. Building the table is going smooth so far, and it's fairly quick. Painting and staining everything will be time consuming, but well worth it in the end. I can't wait to see it all complete!

Linking up to:
Hit Me with Your Best Shot 
Enchanting Inspiration No. 6

My Family Cottage & A Dining Plan

I hope you all had as fun of a 4th as we did! We spent the whole weekend with family and friends at my family's cottage - just a short walk from the beach on Lake Michigan - swimming in the lake, playing in the sand, eating ice cream, and of course watching fireworks over the channel.

  

My parents bought our cottage when I was 4 & we practically lived out there during the summers. Between the trolley rides, walks to get ice cream, spending countless hours at the beach, and climbing sand dunes, my childhood was filled with adventure. I'm so excited that my boys are now at the ages where they can enjoy these activities as much as I did.

About 5 years ago major water damage all but ruined this wonderful place. During the winter there was an electrical surge that shut off the boiler, causing the pipes to freeze and burst leaving the floors covered in inches of water, frost on every window, and drywall bubbling. There wasn't much we could do to fix it other than gut the inside and remodel, keeping the shell of the house.

I wish I had before photos to share, because we were able to move rooms around creating a more open space that functions better for our family. We lost a bedroom upstairs, but gained one in the basement by removing the second kitchen that was original to the house. We kept the bathroom upstairs, but added in a stackable washer and dryer opposite of the custom vanity to conserve space.

The kitchen and a bedroom swapped spots allowing the kitchen to be up front by the deck. Now we're able to see the channel from the new dining room. When I stand in the "new bedroom" I can't believe a kitchen and dining room used to fit in that space.

Speaking of the dining room, it is in major need of a new table and chairs. Currently the table out there is... old. It's been there since I was a kid, and it's seen better days. We're down to 5 chairs, and more often than not there are more than 5 people at the cottage. Most of the time we eat dinner outside on the deck, but when it's raining or we just need a space to hang out at night, it's nice to have seating for everyone.

 

My mom has been hesitant, because she didn't want to buy an expensive wood dining set and have it get ruined. Understandable. I mean, we all want the Pottery Barn table, but we don't want anyone to eat at it. Am I right?!

Insert Ana White's DIY Farmhouse Table.

So lovely, and so similar to this table from Pottery Barn, but built at a fraction of the price.

 

 After having made the vanity for our half-bathroom, I really think this is something I can handle. I shared my design idea and plans with my mom, then ordered the legs from Osborne Wood right away. They'll be here this afternoon -- super fast shipping if you ever need some legs. ;)

I'm planning to paint the legs and apron Linen White by Benjamin Moore to coordinate with the cabinets. They'll be distressed and sealed with a clear wax. The top will also be distressed to hide any abuse it may be put through, but I promised my mom we would lacquer the heck out of it in an attempt to protect it. I'm thinking a darker gray driftwood stain would look nice. The floors are natural hickory and have subtle gray tones in them, and the ceiling is a pine tongue and groove, so I'm not looking to match that.

As for the chairs, I picked up a set of 2 wicker parsons chairs that I'm planning to paint. I'm looking for 4 or 6 more chairs on Craig's List and in thrift shops that I can paint as well. There isn't much color in this space, so my plan is to paint 2 chairs one color, 2 chairs another color, etc. to liven up the room. Something like this:

source

 We have the cutest built in bench in the entry that's painted Caliente by Benjamin Moore, so that will be the red I use for 2 of the chairs to keep a bit of consistency throughout the cottage.

That's also the same color we used on the vanity in the basement bathroom, so it only makes sense to continue it. 

Speaking of that entry bench, did you notice the fantastic paisley fabric on the cushion? I'll be pulling the rest of the colors from that fabric. I'm thinking two red chairs, two yellow chairs, two blue chairs, and possibly two green (if we have room). Or maybe I'll paint each chair a different color; 1 red, 1 orange, 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 blue and... maybe 2 blue? I really depends on the chairs I find, and how big the table ends up being.

I'm excited to get started, and I can't wait until it's all done! I know it will really add character to the dining room and help with color flow throughout the whole cottage.

And in case you think I forgot, I don't have any major updates on my mom's kitchen renovation. The coffee bar is almost complete, and the cup pulls have been installed, but the knobs I ordered look a lot more minty in person than the aqua we are going for. I'm working on returning those now, and either exchanging for a new color, or looking at an entirely different knob.  I also received the fabric for the window valance late last week. I hope to get started on that soon, with a tutorial on how to make a simple and modern valance. Stay tuned! ;)

Linking Up To:
Everyday Enchanting - Enchanting Inspiration Link Party No. 6

Where We've Been

You may have been wondering where I'VE been lately. I seem to have gone missing after my half-bathroom reveal, but no worries -- I'm still here!  Life has been busy, and this little hobby takes a back seat when that happens.  I've been working on a client project, helping my mom choose a few new finishes and fixtures for her kitchen update, and last week was M's last day of 2-day Preschool. All that, on top of a whirlwind trip to New York for my cousin's bridal shower, beginning a Whole 30, planting our vegetable garden, and working outside with my flowers has made for a busy May. More on all of that later... hopefully.

For now, this post is about where WE'VE been! "We" being my little family.

Growing up, travel played an important role in my life and husband's life.  As a kid, I took countless road trips with my family, and specifically my mom. From visiting relatives all over the country (and sometimes internationally), to traveling state-to-state showing my Arabian & Half-Arabian horses, and enjoying some relaxing (aaaand sometimes crazy fun!) tropical vacations and cruises with friends, I had experiences that are irreplaceable and unforgettable.

My husband's travel record is nothing short of fascinating either.  As a teenager, his dad had an exchange student from Denmark who he's stayed in close contact with. He and his family are such incredibly interesting people who make you feel so comfortable when they come to visit. They operate a mission and travel quite a bit, living in different countries. My in-laws have visited their friends several times over the years, a couple of trips were when my husband was younger. He got to experience so much over in Europe, including seeing the Berlin Wall still standing, and after the fall. He visited and learned about Concentration Camps which undeniably had a impact on him. His parents visited a few years ago while their friends lived in Cypress, and rode camels in the desert. How fun!

So needless to say, we are trying to continue this priceless tradition with our children. They already have their passports (T's 1 year old passport photo is sooo cute!), and have traveled out of the country.  

Last year we went to Florida with them, a non-stop flight for our first experience, which went quite well! Then a couple of months later my whole family took a Disney Cruise to the Caribbean for my mom's 60th birthday. That was a blast! We stopped in Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel & Castaway Cay -- Disney's own private island. Truth be told, we only got off the ship in Castaway Cay, which was a beautiful beach perfect for toddlers to enjoy. Mexico was sooo hot with nothing for our age children to do (although the thought of sitting in a cantina or somewhere on the beach with a frozen drink in my hand sounded delightful!), and it was pretty windy in Grand Cayman, a port which you tender into. That was fine with us. On those days we played in the pools and splash pads with not many other people. 

Soon we will be departing on our second Disney cruise to Alaska (I'm 100% sure we'll be getting off the boat at all three ports). That's what really inspire this post and tutorial. Hey Disney, if you're listening, maybe you could sponsor our next trip, because I'm pretty excited about the Hawaiian cruises you've added for 2015! ;)

I've really been wanting to document our travels in our home with a pin map, but when I searched to buy one, they were really pricey What do I do when I want something that's outside of my ideal budget? Make it myself, of course! 

This took me all of 10 minutes and less than $20, and I love how it turned out! 

Supplies:

*A map of your choice (I chose a world map, for obvious reasons, which I purchased at Hobby Lobby for around $3 using my 40% coupon)

*Spray Adhesive (3M Super 77, which I already had)

*Insulation Board (about $13 at Home Depot for a 4'x8' sheet. Plenty left over for future projects!)

*Utility Knife

Step 1:

Unroll your map, and roll it up the other way. This will help quickly flatten your map out. I suppose you could lay it out and put books on it, but this way took about 5 seconds. 

Step 2:

Spray the back of your map (NOT the insulation board!) with the spray adhesive. I let it dry for about 30 seconds, so it's tacky and not wet. In college I used this Super77 spray a lot to make design boards. It's much cleaner than a brush on paste, and it makes your finished project lay nice and smooth.

Step 3:

Starting in a corner, attach your map to the insulation board, smoothing the map as you go, to ensure no bubbles or wrinkles. The spray adhesive allows the map to be re-positionable for a short amount of time.

Step 4:

Once your map is all adhered, take your utility knife and cut along the edge of your map. You can use a metal straight edge (like a ruler or large level) to be sure your cuts are clean, but I didn't, because I'm just that good... kidding. The insulation board is much easier to cut using a sharp knife than my other option - foam core board.

Step 5:

Step back and enjoy your new pin map!

See how easy that was? Now you can either frame it (my map is 50"x32", so a frame that large was not available) or attach it to your wall in some other creative fashion. Since I'm still loving the mirror in my half-bathroom, I decided to recreate that look with this map.

The tones in this map compliment the colors used throughout our playroom/formal living room. How did these two rooms end up in the space space? Kind of an oxymoron, but it's just one giant extra room that should be used as a formal living and dining room. I should call it our Christmas room rather than our "formal living room", since that's usually the only time we really sit in here other than to play. Either way, this adds a fun piece of artwork to the space, and a learning tool for the boys. Oh, and the blue of the water works nicely with my freshly painted built-in backs, which took my husband weeks to notice! Ha!

Linking Up To:
A Bowl Full of Lemons - One Project at a Time
Thrifty Decor Chicken - June Before & After
I Heart Nap Time - Link Party Palooza #44

Half-Bathroom Reveal

 

It's been a long time comin'!

This little space is not 100% complete, but with the exception of a window treatment, it's ready to be enjoyed.

 

Months ago, I had to take a long break from my living room projects when our tile installer called on a Friday and asked us if we would be ready for our new floor to begin installation on Monday. We couldn't say no. We had been waiting a year or so to get this situation fixed!  So that weekend, we demolished the bathroom. And by we, I mean my husband and a sawz-all. He rippeth out, I maketh beautiful!

{Just to recap, we had installed new tile 3 years ago, and much to our surprise, about a year after installation the grout started cracking and chipping, and the tiles were coming loose.  That's how this whole process came to start, although we had wanted to renovate this bathroom for some time.}

 So, after dreaming and pinning from inspiring blogs, I created a design board, which I really didn't stray too far from, besides the wall color.

I had a little debacle with ordering the Montaigne Vanity from Home Decorators collection, a piece which I had a crush on for years! It just goes to show, you must always measure twice and cut, er... order once.  But that gave me the chance to try out my new Kreg Jig I got from my husband for Christmas, and build a similar vanity using my own modified version of this vanity from Ana White. Ah, I love new tools! 

 

I had painted the ceiling a month or so prior to demolition with a free sample of Clark & Kennsington paint I got from Ace Hardware. They used to give those away quite frequently. They should start that up again. ;) Then I painted the upper portion of the walls a different color than what I had specified on my design board. After seeing a photo on Young House Love's site, I decided to go with a darker gray up top; Benjamin Moore's Kendall Charcoal (HC-166), instead of continuing the minty ceiling color onto the walls, as originally planned. I'm happy I did, because the contrast with the planks and the ceiling is refreshing!

 While the new floors were being installed, I got busy planking the walls. Any excuse to use my air compressor, and I'm happy! This process moved quite quickly by myself, but I can't imagine planking a large space, like some inspiring bloggers have done. My biggest challenge was cutting around the window, toilet paper holder, and all of the electrical boxes. Electrical work was something else I also tackled for the first time while working on this bathroom!

Then I primed a couple of coats and painted a few more, and sealed it all off with a coat or two (depending on the area) of Polycrilic.

After the floor and walls were complete, I set the vanity in place and had a template made for the quartz counter tops. And then we waited... 4 weeks. I suppose this would have been the perfect time to get those doors done in the living room, but I didn't. 

 

I worked on other projects, like renewing the sconces in the bathroom...

 and painting a couple of baskets as storage for the vanity (this is an unseen action shot of how I sometimes get projects done with the boys).

A month had come and gone just like that. Who am I kidding? We were in the dead of winter just trying to survive the Michigan Snowpocalypse of 2014! But we kept busy, and waited patiently. As soon as I got the call that my vanity top was done, I dragged the boys out of bed to pick it up! I saved $80 and installed the counter top myself by applying a bead of silicon adhesive to the vanity, and then caulked the two edged with a waterproof silicon caulk as well. Super easy, since this piece weighs only about 50 pounds.

Then I half-way succeeded to hook up the plumbing myself. I installed the faucet, but I didn't have the right drain pipe (or know-how) to complete that myself. One quick call to our plumber, and the drain was hooked up the next day! Now we can wash our hands ensured that water won't be leaking all over my precious vanity.

After placing the baskets, a sweet little painted pot with a succulent my little guy picked out, and hanging the mirror & a painting my husband and I got in Key West from our wedding/honeymoon, the bathroom is complete. Enjoy some photos while I continue my search for the hand towel that started it all!

And now for everyone's favorite shot, the side by side before and after:

So, what do you think? I love it so much that I'm trying to figure out how to get a mattress to fit. :)

Sources:

Ceiling Color: Benjamin Moore Fresh Dew

Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal

Plank Color: Benjamin Moore White Down

Floor Tile: MS International Metro Charcoal @ Home Depot

Vanity: DIY

Baskets: Found at Meijer and Dipped

Countertop: Cotton White Quartz fabricated by Top Of The World

Faucet: Pfister Ashfield in Tuscan Bronze

Sink: Kohler Kelston Undermount in Biscuit

Mirror:  Bolivar Decorative Wall Mirror

Linking up to:

I Heart Nap Time: Link Party Palooza #37
Design, Dining & Diapers: Inspiration Gallery Link Party
The Cards We Drew: Sunday Soiree Link Party
A Bowl Full of Lemons:  One Project at a Time
The Holden Sycamore: Inspiration Gallery Link Party 
Liz Marie Blog: Inspire Me Please - Linky Party  

Featured At:
The Golden Sycamore, Design, Dining & Diapers, Craftberry Bush
Tuesdays at Ten June 

Watercolor Inspired Spring Mantel

Well it's finally feeling like Spring here! 

After a beautiful weekend reaching into the 70's, we had another round of snow on Tuesday, leaving everything covered in ice topped with inches of snow. 

Bleh.

BUT that meant I had a little more time to play around with the shelves in our dining room that I call my mantel. 

When I blogged about my fall mantel, I explained how we have two fireplaces and no mantels... weird. So I whipped up a couple cafe shelves, and now I have a spot to decorate seasonally. 

Funny story about those shelves: I had been wanting to make them for a year or so, but I didn't have an air compressed nail gun. After our second son was born at the end of March, I told my husband that for Mother's Day I really wanted an air compressor with a nail gun and paint sprayer. So on Mother's Day morning we set out to Home Depot, my boys and me, and I got me an air compressor. I'm sure the employees were thinking, "Poor lady. Her husband dragged her, her 6 week old baby and 2 year old son to Home Depot on Mother's Day!" Little did they know...

ANYWAY! I had planned to make these lovely little coffee filter flowers, but after I dyed a couple dozen coffee filters, I thought maybe a wreath would be a nice focal point on the mantel. So that's what I did.

These sweet little cards are from my 30th Birthday! Yep... it's the beginning of a new decade. 

We celebrated with friends on Friday at a local brewery with amazing locally sourced food; appropriate since we live in Beer City USA. Then on Saturday we traveled down to my husband's sister's house to celebrate the 4 April birthdays on my in-law's side. I don't know about you, but April is BY FAR the busiest month for birthdays for us. I personally know 12 people whose birthdays are between the 9th and the 13th. 4th of July must have been fun! ;)

I made this colorful sign on a piece of scrap wood using the pencil transfer method and some acrylics. I love how it turned out! It's a nod to my favorite song in "The Sound of Music", "Edelweiss".

The colorful painting was done by my not quite 4 year old. I love that my boys love to do arts and crafts! His forte right now seems to be cutting, but he really enjoys different methods of painting, and our newest is watercolor. So I used a buy one get one free frame that I picked up at Michael's last weekend. I got 2 good size frames for $21! Awesome!

He also painted this wooden bird two years ago for Mother's Day. It's been a staple in my Spring decor ever since! I decided to put it inside a bird cage I picked up at a new store in our area "At Home". It's pretty much a warehouse full of anything you could dream of for your house, and the largest selection of outdoor cushions I have ever seen in one place! 

So that's it! 

Have you started decorating for Spring?

Linking up to:

I Heart Nap Time: Link Party Palooza #37

Design, Dining & Diapers: Inspiration Gallery Link Party   

The Cards We Drew: Sunday Soiree Link Party

A Bowl Full of Lemons:  One Project at a Time

The Holden Sycamore: Inspiration Gallery Link Party

Liz Marie Blog: Inspire Me Please - Linky Party