Trash to Treasure Desk

A couple of weeks ago, on the way home from grocery shopping, I spotted these 'kicked to the curb' night stands. They were in my car before I knew what I was going to do with them:) They're in good shape, kind of funky, and have lots of drawers - all good things.
Wood glue and white paint to the rescue...
I built a very simple 6ft long box top from leftover plywood which took the height to 30" and gave Miss Hannah the new (free) desk she wanted/needed. Yeah!

White♥

Hello Sunshine!

I was just finishing up a run the other day when I spotted this sad looking chair that had been kicked to the curb:( I thought should I, should't I? Do I really need another project? where would I put it?... And then I was painting it:)

It was in pretty good shape - just needed a little glue and some paint. It looks lovely in Hannah's room.

The Life of A Daybed

In 2000 we bought a day bed for Emma. At the time she was climbing out of her crib which meant she was ready for 'a big girl bed'. It was purchased at Sears and was originally a cream colour. I painted it lot's of fun bright colours to match Emma's fun crazy coloured kids room. What I really liked about this bed was that it had a trundle (2 beds in 1 really).

By 2005 we'd moved to another Province and Emma's day bed became Hannah's new bed. It was painted white to match Hannah's purple and white coloured room.

By 2011 we'd moved to another city (same province) and Hannah's bed stayed white but we took the rod iron swirl work off the back and sides as the little (kind of sharp) maple leafs kept catching on her pajamas:(

Last week I filled in the back and sides of the bed with tongue and groove pine, added some big wood beads (because I had lot's of them in my studio waiting to be useful) and repainted it white.
Then it was moved from Hannah's room to the guest room. Where it will most likely live out it's life, unless Emma would like to take it with her when she moves into her first apartment? The circle of life:)

Hannah, by the way, was very happy to switch up this bed for the guest room's queen size bed - the ultimate 'big girl bed'.

And this is William and Kate (our other kids), in the guest bedroom, right before I yelled at them to get off the just made new/old day bed!

...and they took it to the floor:)

From Granny to Graphic

This is our new old chair fresh from The Upholsterer. Wow! that's what I said when I picked it up.
Many years ago my parents passed this chair onto me. It belonged to my paternal great grandmother. When I first got it the back was caned and it was painted white. Since then it has been stripped, stained, painted and reupholstered three times - if only it could talk.
I love the new look. I figure it'll be around for at least a couple of years:)
Now, where to put it?...
The paint is Benjamin Moore's Black and the material is from Mood fabrics, New York. I bought it when we were there in July.

Our 'new' old Coffee Table

Finding a coffee table for our living room has been on my 'to do list' for a while. I found this gem at Value Village a couple of weeks ago for only $24! The thrill of the find - I love how it happens when you least expect it. 

I primed once, painted twice (leftover Benjamin Moore's Dune white), added a piece of clear glass ($54) and it was ready for it's close up. 

Our 'new' old Console Table

We bought this Console Table on Craigslist ($80) about a month ago. It was all about the 3 drawers. As you can see in the before shot it was a little sad looking. Marathon Man didn't say anything but I'm pretty sure he was thinking I drove all the way to Etobicoke for this?! Little did he know...

We added some trim to the front of the drawers, replaced the knobs (love you Anthropology), painted it black and topped it off with a piece of clear glass. Now he knows...

It looks fabulous in our Front Hall (it was due for a change;) and we all agree that it was worth the drive to Etobicoke.

P.S. Thanks again Marathon Man for driving to Etobicoke* twice! (on the first trip it wouldn't fit in his car - oops).
*For everyone from away -  Oshawa (where we live) to Etobicoke is about 60kms (37miles). That means Marathon Man put in 240kms (148miles) for this baby:)

Our Kitchen Makeover...Project #2, The Island

I've found the inspiration shot (bottom/left) and drawn the sketch. We're* ready to start Project #2 (The Island) of our Kitchen Makeover.
The plan is to make our island look more like a piece of furniture by adding a bookcase to one end - giving us a place to display our beloved cookbooks (yeah). We'll pretty things up with some trim, half newels and knees (carpenter talk) then paint it black. The island will grow from 64" to 80" long giving us enough room to add a 4th stool (yeah). The icing on this cake will be changing up the yucky laminate top for a white corian or quartz top (still looking at samples and gathering quotes on that one).
Stay tuned...
* 'We' meaning Handyman Dad and me. I draw it, he builds it - doesn't get much better than that!
Project #1, Lighting
Project #2, The Island
Project #3, New counter tops
Project #4, The Backsplash
Project #5, Painting The Cupboards - to go white or not to go white?

From curb-side trash to sofa-side treasure

I finally got around to working on my great find from last summer. I found this lamp in someone's trash while out for a morning run and am now so happy that I lugged it home.
It didn't take much to take it from 'curb-side trash to a sofa-side treasure'. It was rewired (Home Depot's all in one kit), painted grey (Benjamin Moore's escarpment) and topped with a new shade (HomeSense). Sweet.
P.S. The pillows (I purchased two) are my salute to 'Honeysuckle', Pantone's colour for 2011. They look fabulous with grey - like most colours do.
P.S.S. Marathon Man thinks I've made the room 'too girlie' with these pillows. What does he know? Hello, he runs in his bare feet for Chr@#st sake!!!

Someone elses trash...

About a month ago, while on a morning run, I spied this very interesting looking lamp. It had been put out for trash!?! If it was still there on my way back I'd pick it up - it was meant to be. If it wasn't there I'd kick myself - ALWAYS seize the moment!
For now my new special lamp is sitting in our basement waiting to be made over. It's base is solid wood, the little table is marble and there's a stamp - made in Italy (uhuh).
I've added this gem to 'The to do list' but have no idea when I'll get to it. In the mean time I'm searching for the perfect new shade, deciding on what colour to paint it and wondering where I'm going to put it(?). Stay tuned...

Hannah's 'new' night tables

For the last couple of weeks I've been busy making mirrors. In my spare time (lol) I've been doing a little 'switching up'.
Switching up is when you take (borrow) from one room and give (lend) to another - much cheaper then going shopping.
It all started during the March Break when Emma switched up her bedroom (the apple doesn't fall far...). She needed 2 night tables - I knew the ones in my bedroom would be perfect. About a month ago I switched up the front hall and needed 2 table lamps - I knew the ones in my bedroom would be perfect. All this switching up left my bedroom void of night tables and lamps. Reading each night by flashlight (seriously) with a pile of books on the floor was fun for about a week. Eventually something had to give - which brings us to this post (stay with me).
I decided to take the night tables in Hannah's bedroom and put them in my bedroom which of course left Hannah without...
OK so some shopping was involved. I found these cuties on craigslist ($12.50 each). They just needed some paint, new hardware and those weird handyman special drawers removed. Ahhh white, the purifier of all things not so pretty.
The big white lamps used to be in Emma's room. I switched them up because Hannah's old lamps were too small for the new tables. So, if you're still with me you'll know that Emma's room is now without lamps (once again). But not for long. Stay tuned.