Banishing the Brick!

I posted before Halloween about the playroom fireplace.  It was plain brick and boring and it's been on the to do list for awhile now.  I had a dilema though.  The hubs wanted to pain it white and I wanted to paint it a darker shade of the wall color (Chromium by Valspar)

Here is the before:

It was dirty and I googled ways to clean the brick just to make sure there wasn't anything too crazy that I was supposed to do.  Nope.  Some scrubbing bubbles, a brush, and a bucket of water.  I scrubbed it pretty good and the changed the dirty water frequently but I didn't notice a huge difference.  However, I'm sure my paint stuck better to a clean surface.
I'm a huge fan of priming.  I prime everything.  It takes my project longer to be completed, but I think it's a step that is totally worth while.  Plus priming always gives me an idea of what the item would look like white.

Here it is primed.  It was this step that I knew I was not going to like the white.  

The hubs and I compromised on the wall color.  I really thought I was going to like the dark but if it looked awful, I would have had to eat that argument and I didn't feel like doing that.   I also thought the wall color would be "fine".  Why don't they ever see our vision?  SO wall color it was.  I went and got it's own quart ($13) to make sure I didn't run out.

It honestly was the same color and same finish (I touched up the walls!), but looked really baby blue (two coats).  I did not like it but it took me a couple of days to tell Chad.  Who also didn't like it!  Woot!  Back to Lowes.  I found a darker grey in the same family and had them try to match.  They couldn't, but I didn't need anything specific, just a darker tint to that color.  So needless to say the final product does not have a name.  I was worried about it screaming "I'm a fireplace" but it is what it is.  Two coats later, I love it and maybe one day I'll style it.

 I also painted the "hearth" black oil based high heat resistant black matte.

I hope that when brick fireplaces come back, I'm not in this house, because that is going to be impossible to get back!

Run Happy

This weekend my BFF was in town.  It was a quick Halloween visit, but honestly they are all too short.  She is a big runner and needs someplace to hang all her medals.  Usually she likes to "steal" random projects from around my house, but this time we did something just for her.

A wooden plaque from Michaels ($10ish) that the boys painted and some cup hooks ($3ish) from Lowes.

Then I printed out "Run Happy" which is from a quote she likes..traced it on to the board and colored it in with permanent marker.  Added the cup hooks and hanging hardware to the back.  All done!

Easy peasy organizing project!  What's the easiest project you've ever done?

Color in the kitchen

I have one of those amazing recessed sockets in my kitchen.  Great if you need a clock.  But I don't.  So I wanted to cover it up.  I also needed something with some height, but there isn't enough room for another shelf.  

I had a canvas that would fit there perfectly.  I wanted some color but not an actual picture that should really be hung close to eye level to see details.  I pin art whenever I see something I like and this one in particular has been all over pinterest.

Decor Pad

It's actually digitally done, but I LOVE those colors.  I looked around for some tutorials for ideas.  There are a lot out there.  Basically they are all the same. 

Paint your canvas:  I actually really liked this one as is and had a hard time putting the tape on it.  You can't see it in this pic but there is actually some sparkly gold going on!

Find the width of painters tape you like and cut strips to the length you want.  I used edge lock duck tape (just shy of 1" thick) and cut 4" long strips on a measured craft mat.  

The rest you do by "eyeballing" it.  Pretty technical I know.  However, I will admit I had to start over three times until I found a way to start my pattern.  My perfect pattern was started with a triangle (point up) in the exact middle of the canvas.

I laid them all out and then peeled off a few random ones.

Instead of white, I used a really light turquoise.  It's my black.  Every room should have a little in it!  I did two layers:

I then used my exact o knife to pull up the tape that was left on there. VERY CAREFULLY.

And here it is in it's final resting place.  I still haven't hung it.  It's propped up.  I still may raise it up a little bit,but that is low on the list.

It wasn't brain surgery but there was lots of drying time involved & it didn't cost a penny (at some point it did but that was so long ago) but a certain best friend is begging me to make one for her...I'm sure I'll do it..because I love anything that takes me away from housework her!

One Word Wednesday

COLOR

Weekend Wrap Up..Buh Bye Now

Our playroom has a brick fireplace.  We had the room painted when we moved in, but weren't real sure what we wanted to do with the brick.  It's not a pretty brick.  Just regular old red clay brick.  I will say here that we don't use this fireplace.  One days we'd love to put gas longs in there but with three littles, I'm not real keen on the idea of anything hot.  I also have a dream picture of what I would want for a fireplace but until we actually use it, and it's not hidden from toys the room changes function there is no reason to spend all that money.

However, it's almost been three years...and I was recently left alone for the night.  So what's a girl (that can't drive and couldn't go anywhere anyway because I had two sick kids) to do..work on a new project of course!  What I did know is that a white mantle was a definite and the hearth part will be black.  I spent five minutes on pic monkey putting those ideas on paper:

My first thought was white.  That is the easiest.  Also very predictable.  But very clean and fresh.  After priming, I was not sold on the white.  This is what the hubs liked.

Then there is the same color as the walls option.  It would blend in better.

I found lots of painted fireplaces on pinterest, mostly darker.  This is where I was leaning.

But there is also the distressed look that I like but this might be too busy for this already very busy room.

So I sent around an email for some thoughts and opinions...What did I end up doing?  You'll have to come back and see!

Adding some Chrom(ium) in the kitchen

The kitchen isn't done but it's no longer tan/beige/khaki boring flat paint!  Introducing Chromium, by Valspar.

I had a set back when cutting in I noticed the paint had some gloppy things in it.  Which means I had to get to Lowes before rolling.  And with 3 little helpers (1 has a double ear infection) I wasn't getting there soon. 

Today we made it out and tonight I rolled.  I'm sure it will need another coat, and there is some ceiling touch ups to do along with painting the tounge and groove (white satin) and let's not forget (but I'd rather) painting the trim (bright glossy white).

Straining the gloppy out of the paint

Above the kitchen sink.  Nightime lighting is terrible.

A corner (it's wet so don't mind the 2 tone look)

I LOVE this color.  It changes all the time with the lighting.  It's not too grey, not too blue.  Again, I love satin, especially in a kitchen.  (We also used this color in the playroom & the playroom at our old house.)  It's so easy to clean up!  Maybe one day I'll go back to eggshell in these spaces, but for now, I have 60 fingers covered in something sticky, messy, gooey at all times.

To Paint or not to Paint

To paint or not to paint?  That is my question for you!

Kitchen soffit.  Paint it the wall color or ceiling color?  The Mr and I are on two different sides.

And if you are interested in that beauty of a light fixture, it can be yours!

Why? Oh why?

Did you see my One Word Wednesday, yesterday?

Why do I insist on buying homes with wallpaper?

This was worse because it had been painted over.  But when we went to do some kitchen updates, some of the wall paper tore.  And I couldn't resist picking and pulling at it.  Two layers of it.

 And then my husband decided to do some searching on wallpaper.  We learned all kinds of things about asbestos and wallpaper.  Oh boy. Good thing I hadn't gotten too crazy in there.  I hadn't planned on removing any.  Which is surprising since I believe if you are going to do it, do it right.  Which means REMOVE that wallpaper.  

I hate the prep work to paint.  When they put down the shoe molding they didn't cover the nail holes or caulk between it and the cabinets.  Lazy.  Thanks for making it my job.  As if I didn't have enough to do.

So now I have sanded, spackled, sanded and caulked.  Some what.  And...why did I insist on changing the color?  There is nothing wrong with the "khaki" color it is.  Although, it is flat paint.  Yuck.  Not only do I hate flat paint, I REALLY hate it in the kitchen!  Soooo, I figured I might as well change the color if I'm going to paint.  Our trim isn't exactly bright white either.  I LOVE bright white trim.  If I was really trying to be a super hero, I would actually change out the trim.  The previous owners seem to have had a dog with separation issues.  Or something that liked to scratch at it.  Doors too.

I'm looking forward to priming tomorrow.  Who knows how long all this will take.  Shouldn't take long considering I have 3 little helpers!

Dresser with a job

I gave you a sneak peek on a dresser I was working on here. My grandmother had this dresser in her basement and didn't need it anymore. She said it didn't work very well, so we thought we would keep it in our basement for tools and what not. Because we certainly didn't need another dresser...so my husband thinks.

Drawers

Then things changed in the bedroom. Eww, really, my mom reads this, get your mind out of the gutter. The hubs (who THOUGHT we didn't need another dresser, why oh why, were we going to keep this one?) got a flatscreen. The blue was not my color. And you know I couldn't leave it alone. So, I sanded

And, I actually liked what I was seeing...wood was painted green, was painted blue, so I was getting some great color and a little blue green mix! However, I kept going. I primed, because I believe in priming. (Almost) everything should be primed before painting.

I painted (I chose a nice neutral pale grey blue, since our master bedroom is still untouched, 1 year in!) I loved the paint. Valspar Ultra premiuim gloss, paint and primer in one. It was thick, went on SMOOTH, and was glossy but not TOO glossy. I really liked this paint and can't wait to use it on another project. This dresser was going to get lots of use, it needed to be glossy.

Then I didstressed it.

Hardware was the hardest part. I knew I wanted clear. I also knew that Hobby Lobby always has their knobs half off. I went to 2 different locations. Twice. They only had 1 knob....ugh...but I was excited to get this piece finished so I buckled and went to Home Depot. These knobs are nicer than the HL ones. Good thing because you can pay twice as much there!

The top

Ta-Da. Finally a new refresh! Which, I am sure, since we are "Refresh & Repurpose", that is what you were waiting for.

BUT....this dresser has a job....remember it was for the TV. It was the perfect size for the TV but not for the TV & the cable box.  Sooooooo.....

I pulled out the top drawer. Hubs cut the front off of the drawer itself and drilled 2 holes. One in the drawer and one in the back of the dresser (for cords). I attached the drawer front with two hinges. I also used a magnet so that it would stay shut, since those hinges will also get lots of use. I thought about painting the inside of that drawer for a fun pop of color, and I still might....one day. 

I don't know why I insisted on styling this for pics, because this is what she will look like in her daily life.

Or, if we are being totally honest, this:

 I love a Refresh & Repurpose. Hope you enjoyed as well! 

 I'm linking up with Beth at A2Z, as well as Coastal Charm, One Project Closer,  Savvy Southern Style, The Thrifty Home, House of Hepworths, Miss Mustard Seed, Tatertots & Jello, & Between Naps on the Porch. Check out some other great ideas!