Friday, November 6, 2015

Ugly Chair Makeovers

This is the first time I've actually purchased a copy of HGTV Magazine. I think I was subconsciously protesting their new TV format which seems to feature much more house hunting than decorating. But, there's always a first time. I was attracted to the current issue (November 2015) because of the article on "Amazing Chair Makeovers". (OK, I'll admit it, the great colors on the cover caught my eye too!)
 
 
My friend, Anita, recovered this old chair for her home in Pemaquid Point, Maine. Last year, when she and her husband downsized, she gave it to me.
 
 
I had loved this sweet little chair in Anita's home and am now loving it in mine. It was exactly what I needed to complete this conversation grouping at one end of our (very long) living room. Every time I see it I think of good times we've had traveling with Anita and her husband, Fred.
 
 
This chair inspired my sister, Joanne, and I to re-do an old chair from our Mom's house last winter.
 
 
The inspiration chair cost $1199.00; we did ours for under $50.00. Here's our chair "Before". Or maybe I should say "During" as we'd already painted the wood and rattan frame.  You can read more about this project here.
 
 
And here's our finished chair. We were pretty happy with the results since we really didn't know what we were doing when we started!
 
 
I did quite a few posts  about the work Joanne and I did to update our Mom's condo. Now Joanne and her husband own the condo and are doing even more renovations. They're currently having new flooring installed in the guest room/study. Since the condo is on Casco Bay, the flooring they chose is a driftwood color.

View of Portland from the condo

Last weekend, Joanne and I were brainstorming color schemes for this room. (Well, mostly me . . . wait until she sees the inspiration swatches I taped al over her wall while she's been at work!)
 


One idea she had was to use neutral gray walls with bright yellow accessories.


That's where the HGTV chair article comes in. Mom had a wing chair very similar to the "before" chair below and Joanne saved it . . . temporarily camouflaged by a simple beige Sure Fit slipcover.

When I saw this photo I got excited to try my hand at amateur re-upholstery again. I could see this "after" chair in a gray and white fabric with the bright yellow legs and piping in Joanne's soon-to-be-painted guest room/office.
 

Here's another "ugly chair makeover" from the HGTV Magazine article that would also work well in a gray room.
 

I love how this chair came out too. It would add lots of color to a boring room.

 
This chair wouldn't work in Joanne's room but I'd love to see six of these around a dining room table!
 

I think I'm probably referred to by my sisters as their "ADD older sister", always coming up with projects for them to do. Now all I have to do is sell Joanne on my latest crazy idea. Maybe we'll soon be re-doing Mom's old wing chair for her new room

             

Get out the yellow paint and upholstery tacks, Joanne
Here I come!


Partying with:
Flaunt It Friday at Chic On a Shoestring
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Holiday Napkins "On the Cheap"


Like so many over-worked, over-stressed Martha Stewart wanna be's of you, I'm already thinking of holiday table settings . . .


So I couldn't wait to read the November issue of Real Simple  for ideas.

 
I loved their article about updating your holiday table with new napkins BUT . . . 

 
 At up to $59.00 for just four napkins, I found myself almost yelling thinking, "Are you cracked???"

Call me cheap but I wouldn't even think of paying almost $15.00 for a simple napkin to "brighten my holiday table".
 
 
So I started thinking . . .

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Creativity at 35,000 Feet!

"Necessity is the Mother of Invention."
~Plato
  
What do you do if you need a Birthday hat in a hurry at 35,000 feet?

 
Make one out of pretzel bags and coffee stirrers, of course!
 
                        

We were returning from our trip to Disney World with our daughter, Kristen, who had just celebrated her 40th birthday with Mickey Mouse and friends. She was still wearing her “It’s My Birthday” badge from Disney World when she boarded the plane. Flight Attendant Diane noticed, wished her a "Happy Birthday", and introduced her to the pilot. 
 
But the best was yet to come!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

"Your Call Is Important To Us..."

Have you ever spent so long on hold that you thought you would go crazy?   I have.

So I guess I can call this an official blog-rant. I spent Monday on hold.
Not part of Monday . . . all of Monday.

 
I was sure that if I heard this one more time, I would have to admit myself to the nearest hospital for the almost criminally insane:
 
"Thank you for calling Disney Travel. Your call is important to us. I’m sorry, but all of our operators are busy at the moment, but please stay on the line. Your call will be answered shortly".
ADVERTISEMENT
[Generic muffled music]

Now that I'm back out of cell phone hell, I'm trying really hard not to blame the whole thing on this guy . . .


You see, I made an error booking "My Disney Experience" and ended up being charged for the same (major) Disney purchase not once, but three times! As soon as I realized my error, I called Disney, only to be welcomed by . . .

Friday, October 2, 2015

An Easy DIY Headboard

My friend, Mary Elizabeth, is always coming up with new projects! This one is so simple that I couldn't wait to share it.



She was just about to donate this little folding "fireplace screen" to Goodwill when she got a another crazy brilliant idea.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...