Table Refinish

Our table is a little....okay, a lot USED. Our kids have forked it over and over, dug holes in it, etc. I have been wanting a dining room remodel for a while.

Okay, so I didn't get the whole remodel of the dining room, but one new piece can make a big difference.


Here is a picture of what our dining room recently looked like:

Our dining table was so bad that I had to start covering it with a table cloth to make it look half way decent.

So, when my friend moved into her new house and the previous owners had left a table there, I told her that I wanted it (thank you Rebecca) since she was just going to get rid of it.

Here it was at the beginning.

Potential....Right?

Okay, look up close. I had a lot of work to do.

The leaf (that was folded under during these pictures) was actually in good shape, but I wanted to stain the top dark.


So, I started by putting the leaf in and stripping and sanding the entire top.

(here is a picture of the leaf )

Then I used a combination poly and stain (5 coats of it) to stain the top and get exactly the color that I wanted it to be.

Here is how it turned out...

I still plan on painting my chairs an off white to match the bottom of the table. I am super excited. I love how it turned out. I can't wait to see how it looks all put together with the chairs done and everything.

Bathroom Update

Paint makes all the difference...

Don't you think?

My favorite place to go get paint is Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. You cant always pick the exact color you want, but you can always find something close. So, if you aren't too picky...Give it a try (the link above is for the Utah County Store off of Orem Blvd. Near Target).

I also love the white shelves that were laying around not even being used

and those cute glass jars (Walmart).

Next job in the bathroom...

Convince my husband that it would be great idea to let me paint the wood cabinets ;)

I am linking up to
Frugalicious Friday

The Lust of a Mantle...

There has been a lot of talk in blog world about Mantle's lately, fireplace Mantle's. Oh how I Lust a real Mantle...cause lets be honest, how many 850 sq. ft. condos have a real mantle?....

I doubt many.

So, the closest I get is a deep window seal.

The problem with that is I can lean pictures, etc. cause I have to be able to

close the blinds at night.

So, here is my before picture.

I know...who would want to do dished looking at that?

Am I wrong?

Pretty boring I think.


SO

I decided to add a little touch of spring.

What do you think?

I need to still find a bright frame for this, but I love the poem inside the frame.

I got this poem from a friend. Every time I went to her house for the last 4 years I thought to

myself....I need to write that down.

Finally after a long time of looking I took some action.

If you can't read the poem in the picture, this is what it says..

Dirty Dishes

Thank Heaven for Dirty Dishes

They have a tale to tell,

While other folks go hungry,

We are eating very well.

With home and health and

Happiness,

We shouldn't want to fuss,

By this stack of evidence

God's very good to us.

Quick Update, All the Difference

I have been wanting to try this for a while.

Have you painted Metal.

It sounded so intimidating to me, but ended up being so simple.

I used Rustoleum Metal Spray Paint (Found at Lowe's for $4-5).

Spent about an hour putting on a couple of hours and

Viola......

What do you think?

Would this be something that you would try?

Next up for the Rustoleum?!?!

....Door knobs.

I will let you know if it works.

I am linking up with The Sabby Chic Cottage

Refinishing Wood

Have you ever Refinished a piece of wood furniture?

Well, if you haven't, here are a couple of tips that I learned on my recent adventure...

1.) Get the right kind wood stripper. I tried two different kinds. After the first one didn't work, I decided to try another one. Believe me when I say that Citristrip is
WAY better than the others.

2.) Make sure you have warm weather. I was so anxious to get started that I started refinishing my bookshelf in 30 deg. weather. Didn't work. Make sure that it is above 50 deg. And just so you know, I found that if you have warm sun shinning on the Gel as it works, it works even better. So enjoy the Sun and have a party.

3.) It is really hard to get into the corners of bookshelves, etc. Make sure you have some toothpicks, skewers, or anything else small and sharp (but not too sharp as you don't want to scratch the wood).

4.) Use an electric sander. I did all of mine by hand. I could have had all the sanding done in 30 minutes if I had had one, but it took me a couple days instead.


Here was my first refinishing project:

Not too shabby!

Colorful Clock

A couple of years ago I received a decorative clock.

Problem: It contained black and gold, and resembled a tire....not so decorative.

My Solution: Of coarse, what else but spray paint.

Oh, and a little black glaze for the finishing touch.

Drab to Fab...Right?!?

I love it....and it was free, simple and did I mention FREE! I already had everything in the cabinet.

I am linking up with the following amazing sites. Check out some great ideas by clicking on the boxes below...





The Shabby Chic Cottage

To your decorating,

Colorful Mama